'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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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
