Mukul Dev

{{short description|Indian actor (1970–2025)}}

{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Mukul Dev

| image = Mukul Dev.jpg

| caption = Dev at a show, {{circa|2012}}

| birth_name = Mukul Dev Kaushal

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1970|09|17}}

| birth_place = New Delhi, India

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2025|05|23|1970|09|17}}

| death_place = New Delhi, India[https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/mukul-dev-passes-away-at-54-10025648/ Mukul Dev Death: Actor Mukul Dev dies at 54; shocked Ajay Devgn says, ‘Still trying to process it’]{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title='Son of Sardar' actor Mukul Dev dies at 54 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/actor-mukul-dev-passes-away-at-54-son-of-sardaar-jai-ho/article69613447.ece |access-date=24 May 2025 |work=The Hindu |date=24 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250524145706/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/actor-mukul-dev-passes-away-at-54-son-of-sardaar-jai-ho/article69613447.ece |archive-date=24 May 2025 |language=en-IN}}

| other_names =

| known_for = Dastak

| relatives = Rahul Dev (brother)

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1996–2025

}}

Mukul Dev Kaushal ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ʊ|k|ʊ|l|_|d|ɛ|b|_|ˈ|k|aʊ|ʃ|ə|l}}; 17 September 1970 – 23 May 2025) was an Indian television and film actor. He was renowned for his roles in Hindi and Punjabi films, TV series, and music albums, and also appeared in Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu films.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Mukul-Devs-dozen-films-in-two-years/articleshow/8047474.cms|title=Mukul Dev's dozen films in two years|newspaper=The Times of India|first=Aparna|last=Phadke|access-date=19 October 2011|date=21 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907173904/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-21/news-interviews/29458871_1_hindi-film-mukul-dev-share-screen-space|url-status=live|archive-date=7 September 2014|df=dmy-all}} He received the 7th Amrish Puri Award for Excellence in Acting for his performance in the film Yamla Pagla Deewana.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Mukul-Dev-gets-Amrish-Puri-Award-for-Yamla-Pagla-Deewana/articleshow/9324363.cms|title=Mukul Dev gets Amrish Puri Award for Yamla Pagla Deewana|newspaper=The Times of India|first=Suruchi|last=Sharma|date=22 July 2011|access-date=19 October 2011|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011171951/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Mukul-Dev-gets-Amrish-Puri-Award-for-Yamla-Pagla-Deewana/articleshow/9324363.cms|url-status=live}} He died at the age of 54 on 23 May 2025, following a brief illness.{{cite news|title=R Rajkumar And Jai Ho Actor Mukul Dev Dies At 54. Deepshikha Nagpal Pays Tribute|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/r-rajkumar-and-jai-ho-actor-mukul-dev-dies-at-54-deepshikha-nagpal-pays-tribute-8494616|website=NDTV}}{{cite web |title=Bollywood Actor Mukul Dev Dies at 54: Known for 'Son of Sardaar', 'Jai Ho' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/son-of-sardaar-jai-ho-actor-mukul-dev-passes-away-at-54-3555644 |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=24 May 2025 |language=en-In}}

Early life

Mukul Dev was born in New Delhi into a Punjabi family with roots in a village near Jalandhar{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Nanki |date=5 August 2014 |title=I am from this (Punjabi) soil: Mukul Dev |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/i-am-from-this-punjabi-soil-mukul-dev/story-4ZkCyZPL8ReReaWn2hf2HN.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409134751/https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/i-am-from-this-punjabi-soil-mukul-dev/story-4ZkCyZPL8ReReaWn2hf2HN.html |archive-date=9 April 2025 |website=Hindustan Times}} and grew up in Delhi. He was the younger brother of actor and model Rahul Dev.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-26 |title=Mukul Dev Death Live Updates: Salman Khan, Anupam Kher, Sushmita Sen, Ajay Devgn pay tribute to 'wonderful soul' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/mukul-dev-death-live-updates-actor-model-brother-of-rahul-dev-dies-at-54-tributes-pour-in-10025670/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} They also have a sister. He studied at St. Columba's School, Delhi.{{cite news |title=Mukul Dev had an old-school bro connection with Bollywood's Badshah, Shah Rukh Khan |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/mukul-dev-had-an-old-school-bro-connection-with-bollywoods-badshah-shah-rukh-khan/articleshow/121376891.cms?from=mdr |work=The Economic Times |date=24 May 2025}}

Mukul stated that he was exposed to Afghan culture through his father, who could speak Pashto and Persian.{{Cite web |date=3 January 2018 |title=Playing a Pashtun lord |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/life-style/playing-a-pashtun-lord-522563/ |website=Tribune India}} His father, Hari Dev, a former Assistant Commissioner of Police, died on April 17, 2019 at the age of 91.{{Cite web |date=22 April 2019 |title=Rahul Dev's father, Hari Dev, passes away at 91 |url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/rahul-devs-father-passes-away-at-91-20793161 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612144432/https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/rahul-devs-father-passes-away-at-91-20793161 |archive-date=12 June 2022 |access-date=12 June 2022 |website=Mid-day |language=en}}

In class 8, he won his first pay cheque when he impersonated Michael Jackson for a dance show organized by Doordarshan.{{Cite web |last=Basu |first=Arundhati |date=1 October 2005 |title=Ties that bind |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/ties-that-bind/cid/1537618 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409135310/https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/ties-that-bind/cid/1537618 |archive-date=9 April 2025 |website=Telegraph India}} He was a trained pilot from the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi.{{cite news |last=Kamra |first=Diksha |date=18 January 2011 |title=Mukul Dev is back in action |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Mukul-Dev-is-back-in-action/articleshow/7303984.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907174332/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-18/news-interviews/28377623_1_rahul-dev-mukul-dev-shooting |archive-date=7 September 2014 |access-date=19 October 2011 |newspaper=The Times of India |df=dmy-all}}

Career

= Television =

Mukul Dev made his acting debut on TV through a serial Mumkin playing the role of Vijay Pandey in 1996.{{Cite web |title=Bollywood Movie Actor Mukul Dev Biography, News, Photos, Videos |url=https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/mukul-dev |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=nettv4u |language=en}} He also acted in Doordarshan's Ek Se Badkar Ek, a comedy Bollywood countdown show.

He was also the host of Fear Factor India Season 1.{{cite web |date=16 September 2011 |title=Mukul Dev - the 'Jat' on a buffalo mission! |url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/mukul-dev-jat-buffalo-mission-070209721.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519123520/http://in.news.yahoo.com/mukul-dev-jat-buffalo-mission-070209721.html |archive-date=19 May 2012 |access-date=19 October 2011 |work=Yahoo! News |df=dmy-all}} He acted in several television serials in the 2000s such as Kahin Diyaa Jale Kahin Jiyaa (2001), Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii (2003) and Pyar Zindagi Hai (2003). He participated in the dance competition show Kabhi Kabhii Pyaar Kabhi Kabhii Yaar in 2008.{{Cite web |title=From Pilot To Bollywood Star: Who Was Mukul Dev, Actor Who Battled Loneliness — What Was His Net Worth? |url=https://zeenews.india.com/photos/entertainment/from-pilot-to-bollywood-star-who-was-mukul-dev-actor-who-battled-loneliness-what-was-his-net-worth-2905703 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Zee News |language=en}}

In 2018, he appeared in 65 episodes of the television series 21 Sarfarosh - Saragarhi 1897.

= Films =

He was spotted by Amitabh Bachchan's company ABCL and got a role for a movie titled Naam Kya Hai but it got shelved. He made his film debut in 1996 with Dastak{{Cite news |date=2025-05-24 |title=Mukul Dev passes away: A look back at the actor's debut film 'Dastak' with Sushmita Sen |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mukul-dev-passes-away-a-look-back-at-the-actors-debut-film-dastak-with-sushmita-sen/articleshow/121377662.cms |access-date=2025-05-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} as ACP Rohit Malhotra in the same movie which also introduced Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen. He appeared in several films such as Qila (1998), Wajood (1998), Mere Do Anmol Ratan (1998), Kohram (1999) and Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao (2001). He also appeared in many regional films in Punjabi, Bengali and Telugu languages.

In recent years he played supporting roles in the Hindi films Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011), Son of Sardaar (2012), R... Rajkumar (2013) and Jai Ho (2014).

Shortly before his death, he shot for Son of Sardaar 2 which will mark his final film appearance.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-24 |title=Vindu Dara Singh Reveals Mukul Dev Shot For Son Of Sardaar 2 In Scotland: Ajay Devgn Ne Usse... |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/bollywood/vindu-dara-singh-reveals-mukul-dev-shot-for-son-of-sardaar-2-in-scotland-ajay-devgn-ne-usse-article-151710849 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Times Now |language=en}}

Death

In May 2025, Dev was hospitalized for an illness. His health worsened and despite being moved to the intensive care unit, he died on May 23, 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/story/actor-mukul-dev-dead-bollywood-films-son-of-sardaar-television-roles-2729820-2025-05-24|title=Mukul Dev, former model and versatile actor known for villain roles, dies at 54|date=May 24, 2025|access-date=May 25, 2025|website=India Today|last=Farzeen|first=Sana}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of Mukul Dev film credits

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" | Language

! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Notes

scope="row" |1996

|Dastak

|ACP Rohit Malhotra

| rowspan="11" |Hindi

|

scope="row" rowspan="6" |1998

|Wajood

|Inspector Nihal Joshi

|

Iski Topi Uske Sarr

|Raj

|

Himmatwala

|Suraj

|

Qila

|Amar A. Singh

|

Mere Do Anmol Ratan

|Surinder (Suren)

|

Sar Aakhon Par

| Himself{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/sar-ankhon-par-review-bollywood-pcltREiggcfgf.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407233927/https://www.sify.com/movies/sar-ankhon-par-review-bollywood-pcltREiggcfgf.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2020|title=Sar Ankhon Par|website=Sify}}

|

scope="row" | 1999

|Kohram

|Monty

|

scope="row" rowspan="3" |2001

|Ittefaq

|Vikram Singh

|

Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao

|Monty

|

Guru Mahaaguru

|Ajay

|

scope="row" |2003

|Hawayein

|

|Punjabi

|

scope="row" |2005

|Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena

|Bhatia

| rowspan="4" |Hindi

|

scope="row" |2006

|Chor Mandli

|Hero

|

scope="row" |2007

|Just Married

|Shoib Mirza

|

scope="row" rowspan="2" |2008

|De Taali

|Sunil

|

Krishna

|Jakka

|Telugu

|

scope="row" rowspan="3" |2009

|Rajani

|Jakka

|Kannada

|

Ek Niranjan

|Kailash

| rowspan="5" |Telugu

|

Sidham

|Bilal

|

scope="row" rowspan="2" |2010

|Kedi

|Human Bomb

|

Adhurs

|Rasool

|

scope="row" rowspan="4" |2011

|Bejawada

|Vijay Krishna

|

Abhisandhi

|

|Bengali

|

Money Money, More Money

|Abbas

|Telugu

|

Yamla Pagla Deewana

|Gurmeet 'Billa' Singh Brar

|Hindi

|

scope="row" rowspan="5" |2012

|Burrraahh

|Gurpartap Singh Nazi

|Punjabi

|

Son of Sardaar

|Tony Sandhu

|Hindi

|

Awara

|Tony Bharadwaj

|Bengali

|

Chaar Din Ki Chandni

|Udaybhan

|Hindi

|

Nippu

|Shankar Khakha

|Telugu

|

scope="row" rowspan="4" |2013

|R... Rajkumar

|Qamar Ali

|Hindi

|

Bhai

|Anthony

|Telugu

|

Heer and Hero

|Inspector Zaildar

|Punjabi

|

War Chhod Na Yaar

|Afghani Ghuspetia

| rowspan="2" |Hindi

|

scope="row" rowspan="5" |2014

|Creature 3D

|Professor Sadana

|

Bachchan

|Underworld King Master

|Bengali

|

Baaz

|Darbara

|Punjabi

|

Jal

|

| rowspan="4" |Hindi

|

Jai Ho

|Shreekanth Paatil

|

scope="row" rowspan="5" |2015

|Meeruthiya Gangsters

|R.K. Singh

|

Bhaag Johny

|ACP Pathan

|

Shareek

|Dara Brar

| rowspan="4" |Punjabi

|{{Won}}—PTC Punjabi Film Award for best actor in a negative role{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Ishq Vich: You Never Know{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movie-details/ishq-vich-you-never-know/movieshow/61218015.cms |title=Ishq Vich: You Never Know |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=30 January 2024}}

|Unknown

|

Hero 'Naam Yaad Rakhi'

|Jeet

|

scope="row" rowspan="3" |2016

|Saka - The Martyrs of Nankana Sahib

|Sardar Kartar Singh Jhabbar

|

Nagarahavu

|Cameo

|Kannada

|

Zorawar

|Samarjeet Singh

| rowspan="2" |Punjabi

|

2016

|Jora 10 Numbaria

|Shera

|Directed by Amardeep Singh Gill

scope="row" rowspan="6" |2018

|Pagalpanti

|Inspector Ram Sharma

|Gujarati

|

Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle

|Arru Bhai

|Hindi

|

My Story

|Sunil

|Malayalam

|

Sultan: The Saviour

|Dinesh Roy / Sarkaar

|Bengali

|

Nirdosh

|Rana

| rowspan="2" |Hindi

|

Omerta

|

|Writer{{cite web|title=Mukul Dev: Omar Sheikh turned me into a writer|date=16 March 2018|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mukul-dev-omar-sheikh-turned-me-into-a-writer/19202176|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317165133/https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mukul-dev-omar-sheikh-turned-me-into-a-writer/19202176|archive-date=17 March 2018|access-date=March 16, 2018}}

scope="row" rowspan="6" |2019

|Daaka

|Inspector Kuldeep Singh

| rowspan="2" |Punjabi

|

Saak

|Karam Singh's friend

|

Barefoot Warriors

|Daman Singh

|English

|

Munda Faridkotia

|Darvesh

| rowspan="2" |Punjabi

|

Sarabha: Cry for Freedom

|Harnam Singh Tundilat

|Also in English and Hindi

3rd Eye

|Malik

| rowspan="2" |Hindi

|

scope="row" rowspan= |2022

|Anth The End

|

|

2025

| {{Pending film|Son of Sardaar 2}}

| Tony Sandhu

| Hindi

| Final film

= Television =

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of Mukul Dev television credits

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Serial

! scope="col" | Role

! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Notes

! class="unsortable" scope="col" | {{refh}}

scope="row" | 1996

|Mumkin

|Vijay Pandey

|

scope="row" | 2000–2003

| Gharwali Uparwali

| Ravi

|

| {{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000709/spectrum/tv.htm|title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television|date=July 9, 2000|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621105433/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000709/spectrum/tv.htm|url-status=live}}

scope="row"| 2002

| Hare Kanch Ki Chudian

| Amar

| Telefilm

|

scope="row"| 2002

| Ek Tukdaa Chaand Ka

| Akash Kapoor

|

|

scope="row"| 2002

| Kahin Diyaa Jale Kahin Jiyaa

| Rohit Rajvansh

|

| {{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010520/spectrum/tv.htm|title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television|website=www.tribuneindia.com|access-date=2016-06-23|archive-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606075717/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010520/spectrum/tv.htm|url-status=live}}

scope="row"| 2003

| Kutumb

| Abhijat Desai

|

|

scope="row"| 2003–2004

| Gharwali Uparwali Aur Sunny

| Ravi

|

|

scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2004

| Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat - Kab Kaisey Kahan

| Himanshu

| One episode

|

Bhabhi

| Tilak Chopra

|

|

scope="row"| 2004–2006

| K. Street Pali Hill

| Arindam Keshav

|

|

scope="row"| 2005

| Kasshish

| Aman

|

|

scope="row" rowspan="2"|2006

| Fear Factor India

| Host

|

| {{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/ssshhh-mukul-dev-is-here/article3203260.ece|title=Ssshhh... Mukul Dev is here|date=November 20, 2006|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011171940/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/ssshhh-mukul-dev-is-here/article3203260.ece|url-status=live}}

Ssshhhh...Phir Koi Hai - Waaris

| Kunwar Virendra Pratap Singh

| One episode

|

scope="row" rowspan="3"|2008

| Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan

| Pulkit

|

|

Arslaan

| Zakfaar

|

| {{cite web|url=http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/tv/shows/arslaan/articleshow/3214080.cms|title=Arslaan on Sony Entertainment Television|date=July 9, 2008|access-date=March 7, 2018|archive-date=8 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308103750/http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/tv/shows/arslaan/articleshow/3214080.cms|url-status=live}}

Kabhi Kabhii Pyaar Kabhi Kabhii Yaar

| Himself

| Winner

| {{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/mukul-dev-returns-to-tv-after-9-years/articleshow/59983194.cms|title=Mukul Dev returns to TV after 9 years|access-date=August 9, 2017|archive-date=28 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728011121/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/mukul-dev-returns-to-tv-after-9-years/articleshow/59983194.cms|url-status=live}}

scope="row"| 2009

| Ssshhhh...Phir Koi Hai - Thakur Ki Dulhan

| Thakur Virendra Pratap Singh

|

|

scope="row"| 2018

| 21 Sarfarosh - Saragarhi 1897

| Gul Badshah

| Won—Indian Telly Award - Best Actor in a Negative Role (Jury) (2019)

|

= Web series =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of Mukul Dev web series credits

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Notes

scope="row"|2019

|Maaya season 3

|Dr. Akash Arora

|

scope="row"|2020

|State Of Siege: 26/11

|Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

|{{Cite web|title=Got to portray a 'real evil man' in 'State Of Siege: 26/11': Mukul Dev|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2020/mar/27/got-to-portray-a-real-evil-man-in-state-of-siege-2611-mukul-dev-2122254.html|access-date=2021-01-07|website=The New Indian Express|date=27 March 2020 }}{{Cite web|date=March 31, 2020|first=Jyoti|last=Kanyal|title=Mukul Dev: TV news clippings helped me prepare for my role in State of Siege|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/binge-watch/story/mukul-dev-tv-news-clippings-helped-me-prepare-for-my-role-in-state-of-siege-1661802-2020-03-31|access-date=2021-01-07|website=India Today|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-03-21|title=State of Siege 26/11 review: An unflinching portrayal of Mumbai terror attacks|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/state-of-siege-26-11-review-an-unflinching-portrayal-of-mumbai-terror-attacks/story-STeMetUYBNmAq0rCZ8CYKJ.html|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}

Dubbing roles

=Live action films=

class="wikitable"

|+ List of Mukul Dev film live action dubbing credits

scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Actor(s)

! scope="col" | Character(s)

! scope="col" | Dubbed Language

! scope="col" | Original Language

! scope="col" | Original year release

! scope="col" | Dubbed year release

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

Black PantherAndy SerkisUlysses KlaueHindiEnglish20182018Pawan Shukla dubbed this character in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Captain MarvelJude LawYon-RoggHindiEnglish20192019

References

{{Reflist}}