'Bandish Bandits' actor Amit Mistry dies of cardiac arrest
Mumbai: Popular Gujarati and Hindi film actor Amit Mistry, known for starring in films like "Shor In The City", "Bey Yaar" and Amazon Prime Video series "Bandish Bandits", died on Friday following cardiac arrest, his manager said.
The 47-year-old actor was at his residence in Andheri with his mother when he breathed his last at around 9.30 AM.
"He woke up, had his breakfast and even exercised before he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was absolutely fit and fine. Amit had no underlining medical condition. It's an absolutely shocking news," the actor's manager Maharshi Desai told PTI.
Mistry is survived by his mother.
The actor was a prominent face in the Gujarati theatre circuit.
His work in Hindi films like "Kya Kehna", "Ek Chalis Ki Last Local" and especially his collaborations with filmmaker Raj-DK including "99", "Shor In The City" and "A Gentleman" got him wider attention.
Mistry also earned acclaim in last year's hit series "Bandish Bandits" playing musician Devendra Rathod.
His TV credits include popular show "Yeh Duniya Hai Rangeen". Mistry's sudden death shocked his colleagues and industry people.
Directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, who worked with Mistry in most of their projects, said the actor will be missed.
"Devastated that Amit Mistry is no more! He was very special to us! Kuber (99), Tipu (SITC), Jignesh (A Gentleman), Prakhaand Pandit (current series)...in every script of ours, we subconsciously wrote a part for him. Heartbroken! Every time we write a script, he will be missed," the director duo tweeted.
"We always used to boast that Amit was our discovery. He always brought such freshness and joy to any character he played. In fact, we have a set standing, shoot paused due to lockdown... it's going to be miserable going back to it. These are terrible times!," they added.
The directors said their last conversation with Mistry was about relationships and careers.
"Amit was incredibly spiritual and our last chat was about relationships and careers and how they impact a man... prophetically he had said, they could make or break a person. The times are so excruciatingly bad, that it damages the best of us. Rest In Peace, Amit."
Actor Pankaj Tripathi said it's hard to believe that Mistry is no more.
"This is extremely sad news. We were working on a scene just last month. He left so early. This is not fair God. It's a difficult time. Farewell Amit."
Mourning Mistry's death, actor Rajesh Tailang, his co-star in "Bandish Bandits", tweeted, "Brother Amit, can't believe this that someone so full of life is no more. Keep spreading love the way you used to wherever you are."
Singer-actor Swanand Kirkire tweeted, "Amit Mistry? No... this is unbelievable. He was an amazing actor and a real happy soul." Actor Tisca Chopra also expressed shock.
"Such a lovely guy, totally chill... deepest condolences to the family," she wrote.
Director Hansal Mehta wrote, "This is terrible. Really terrible." PTI JUR
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Pakistan's Balochistan appoints first Hindu woman Assistant Commissioner
Karachi, May 13 (PTI): Kashish Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Pakistani Hindu woman, has made history by becoming the first female from the minority community in Balochistan to be appointed as Assistant Commissioner in the restive province.
Kashish, who hails from the remote town of Noshki in district Chagai in the province, qualified Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination.
On Monday, Kashish, accompanied by her father Girdhari Lal, met Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti in Quetta and told him that she would work for the empowerment of women and minorities, and the overall development of the province.
“It is a matter of great pride for me that my daughter has become an assistant commissioner due to her hard work and commitment,” Lal told the media.
Lal, a mid-level trader, said his daughter had always dreamed of studying and doing something for her women.
Chief Minister Bugti said it was a matter of pride for the nation when members of the minority communities got to key positions due to their hard work and effort.
“Kashish is a symbol of pride for the nation and Balochistan,” he said.
In recent years, women from the Hindu community have achieved notable success in generally male-dominated fields in Pakistan, overcoming many cultural, religious and social hurdles to get to important positions.
In July 2022, Manesh Ropeta became the first Hindu woman to be appointed as Superintendent of Police in Karachi, where she is still fulfilling her duties.
Pushpa Kumari Kohli, a 35-year-old police sub-inspector in Karachi, said Hindu women have the tenacity and intelligence to reach the top.
“I also passed the Sindh police Public Services Examination. There are many more Hindu girls out there waiting to educate themselves and become something,” said Kohli, who belongs to a scheduled caste.
Suman Pawan Bodani is still serving as a civil judge in Hyderabad after first being appointed as a civil judge in her hometown of Shahdadkot in Sindh province in 2019.
Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a politician in Sindh province, believes that young Hindu girls, who are supported by their families, have shown more inclination and initiative to gain education and pursue higher studies.
“Our young women are doing us proud. We have doctors, civil servants, police officers, etc in Sindh,” he said.
He said that despite being notorious for its problem of underage and young Hindu girls being abducted and converted by Muslim men, Sindh required more educational facilities for the Hindu community to counter such menaces.
Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.
The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province.
