In Memoriam: Cinema stars we lost in 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Dharmendra, Asrani, Manoj Kumar, Kamini Kaushal... 2025 was the year that Indian cinema lost some of its brightest and best, those who have passed away but will live on through their work in the movies that mirror the concerns of an evolving India. Here are some who we said goodbye to:
Dharmendra: One of the most loved stars with a filmography that featured classics such as "Sholay", "Anupama" and "Chupke Chupke", Dharmendra's death just days before his 90th birthday marked the end of an era in Hindi cinema.
Dharmendra died on November 24 after being in and out of hospital for over a month. Fans of Dharmendra, who is still considered one of the most good looking stars that the Hindi cinema ever produced, will get to see his last performance in Sriram Raghavan's "Ikkis". The film releases on January 1, 2026.
Manoj Kumar: A close friend of Dharmendra from his days of struggle and a star who redefined patriotic movies in Hindi cinema with films such as "Upkar", "Purab Aur Paschim" and "Kranti", Manoj Kumar died on April 4 this year after prolonged illness. He was 87. Both Dharmendra and Manoj Kumar shared a close bond and Dharmendra once revealed that he had almost abandoned his acting dreams but Manoj Kumar convinced him to stay back in Mumbai.
Govardhan Asrani: In the year that "Sholay" completed 50 glorious years of its release, the industry lost two of its most famous stars in the death of Dharmendra and Asrani.
Asrani, who memorably played the jailor with a colonial hangover in the early part of the movie, was 84. Not just "Sholay", Asrani left an indelible mark as a character artist in a series of movies, most memorably in "Chupke Chupke", "Abhimaan" and "Baton Baton Mein". He had a long innings of over 300 films in Hindi cinema.
Kamini Kaushal: One of Hindi cinema's most educated and earliest female stars, Kamini Kaushal died on November 14 at the age of 98. Kaushal, who worked with all the top stars of her era but most prominently with Dilip Kumar in "Shaheed", "Nadiya Ke Paar" and "Shabnam", began her career with 1946 film "Neecha Nagar". Other than movies, Kaushal was also an avid puppeteer and a writer.
: Singer and Assam's cultural icon Zubeen Garg's death at the age of 52 brought an unprecedented outpouring of grief from public in the state with lakhs attending his last rites. Garg, who had travelled to Singapore to attend the North East India Festival, died while swimming in the sea on September 19.
Satish Shah: The "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron" actor, who was loved for his roles in movies as well as TV shows, died due to kidney failure on October 25. He was 74. The actor memorably played Indravardhan opposite Ratna Pathak Shah in "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai" and professor Rasai in Shah Rukh Khan's "Main Hoon Na".
B. Saroja Devi: Legendary South Indian actor whose work spanned Tamil, Telugu and Kannada movies, B Saroja Devi was known for her strong presence on the screen. She featured in movies such as "Paasamalar", "Kalyana Parisu", "Enga Veettu Pillai", "Palum Pazhamum", "Mahakavi Kalidasa", "Kittur Chennamma", "Jagadeka Veeruni Katha". She acted opposite MGR in over 20 films.
Sandhya Shantaram: A popular star of yesteryear Hindi and Marathi cinema, Sandhya Shantaram died at the age of 94 in October. Her most noted films are "Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje", "Do Aankhen Barah Haath", "Navrang" and "Pinjra" -- all directed by popular filmmaker and husband V Shantaram.
Shefali Jariwala: Popular TV actor Shefali Jariwala shot to fame with her breakout appearance in the remix track "Kaanta Laga", and also appeared on several reality shows like "Bigg Boss", "Nach Baliye". Her untimely death at the age of 42 shocked fans.
Pankaj Dheer: Television star Pankaj Dheer, known for playing Karna in B R Chopra's "Mahabharat" and king Shivdutt in fantasy drama "Chandrakanta", died on October 15 following a battle with cancer. He was 68.
Sulakshana Pandit: Renowned singer and actress from Hindi cinema Sulakshana Pandit, known for her voice and roles in films of 1970s, passed away at 71 in November. She was the sister of actor Vijayta Pandit and famous music composer duo Jatin-Lalit.
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Protests against Khamenei's killing: Curbs remain in force in Kashmir
Srinagar (PTI): Strict restrictions remained imposed in many areas of Kashmir for the third consecutive day on Wednesday following massive protests across the valley against the killing of Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officials said.
As a precautionary measure, the government shut educational institutions till Saturday, while mobile internet speed continued to remain throttled.
"Restrictions on the movement and assembly of the people continued in many parts of Kashmir on Wednesday," the officials said.
They said strict restrictions were being enforced especially in the parts having large Shia population and those areas which have witnessed massive protests over the last three days.
A large number of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed across the city to prevent gatherings of protestors, the officials said.
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They added that concertina wires and barricades were placed at important intersections leading into the city, while asserting that these were precautionary measures imposed to maintain law and order.
The iconic Ghanta Ghar in the city centre of Lal Chowk here continued to remain a no-go zone after the authorities sealed area with barricades erected all around it on late Sunday night.
The move to seal the Ghanta Ghar came after it witnessed massive protests on Sunday after Khamenei's assassination in the joint air strikes by the US and Israel.
This is the first time since August 2019 that protests on such a large scale have taken place in Kashmir.
The government had first ordered the closure of schools, colleges and universities for two days. However, on Tuesday it decided to close the educational institutions till Saturday as a precautionary measure in view of the protests.
Mobile internet speeds continued to remain throttled while some prepaid mobile connections were also barred, the officials added.
On Tuesday, protests rocked several places in the valley, including Sumbal and Pattan areas of North Kashmir.
In Sumbal of Bandipora district, security forces had to resort to force to disperse the demonstrators.
Some media outlets and individuals, including National Conference Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu, faced police heat for allegedly circulating misleading information.
A case was filed against Mehdi and Mattu under BNS sections 197(1)(d) and 353(1)(b) at Cyber Police Station, Srinagar, for allegedly circulating "false, fabricated and misleading content" on digital and social media platforms.
"The content in question, prima facie, reflects the dissemination of distorted narratives and unverified information capable of causing public unrest and societal disharmony. Such deliberate attempts to spread misinformation pose a serious threat to peace, security, and overall stability," the police said in a statement.
Both have been condemning the killing of Khameinei and the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran.
However, hours after the registration of the case, Mehdi, an influential Shia leader, said he would not be deterred from speaking the truth.
"The people of Srinagar did not elect their MP to recite government-approved condolences. They elected him to speak truth. That mandate does not expire with an FIR," he said in a post on X.
Police has issued an appeal to people to refrain from violence and provocation.
"We appeal to all sections of the society to exercise restraint and refrain from violence and provocation," it said.
Police said they will take strict legal action against instigators of violence and those involved in unlawful activities.
On Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directed officials to be on high alert and chaired a meeting of top officials of the police and army here.
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"Chaired a meeting of senior police & civil administration officials at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, to review the law and order situation. Directed the officers to remain on heightened alert and take all necessary measures to ensure public peace and tranquillity," Sinha said on X.
He appealed to the people and community leaders to maintain peace.
"I also appeal to the citizens and community leaders to uphold harmony and contribute to an atmosphere of calm and goodwill in society. Preserving peace and sustaining the progress of society is a shared responsibility that rests equally upon each one of us," he said.
