Yesteryear actor Joy Mukherjee passed away after prolonged illness at the city’s Lilavati hospital on Friday morning. He was 73. Mr. Mukherjee had starred in many Hindi movies of the 1960s such as Shagird, Love In Tokyo, Ziddi, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon and Ek Musafir Ek Hasina.

“Joy Mukherjee was admitted to Lilavati hospital a week ago after he complained of breathlessness and fever,” Neelam Gupta and R.R. Pathak, spokespersons for Mr. Mukherjee’s family, told The Hindu.


On life support


He was put on artificial support system after his lungs failed to respond. “He was put on respirators since the time he was admitted in the hospital. He was undergoing treatment in the ICU,” Ms. Gupta said.


Mr. Mukherjee lost consciousness nearly two days after he was admitted to the hospital. “His condition deteriorated yesterday [Thursday]. We lost him this morning,” Ms. Gupta said.


He is survived by his wife Neelam and three children including two sons — Boy and Troy.


Moral support


Veteran actors Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu had visited the hospital on Thursday. Musician Bappi Lahiri too spent some time in the hospital with Mr. Mukherjee’s wife, giving her moral support.


Tributes


Actor Amitabh Bachchan paid tributes to Mr. Mukherjee on social networking site Twitter on Friday, “Joy Mukherjee passes away…leading man and a star during his time…condolences to members of his family and prayers…”


Mr. Mukherjee hailed from a family which was well-known in the Hindi film industry. His father was the co-founder of Filmalaya studio and was married to veteran actor Ashok Kumar’s sister Sati Devi.


Mr. Mukherjee was actor Kajol’s paternal uncle.



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