Mukul Dev Death: Loneliness Led to Starvation, Brother Says

Bollywood actor Mukul Dev, known for his role in Son of Sardaar and numerous TV serials, passed away at 54 in June 2025. In the days after his death, his brother Rahul Dev shared a painful account of Mukul’s final days—a story marked by loneliness, withdrawal, and a complete refusal to eat for five days.

Age at death: 54 ·
Date of death: 23 May 2025 ·
Cause of death: Starvation after stopping eating for 5 days ·
Known for: Movies like Son of Sardaar and TV series ·
Marital status: Divorced (ex-wife Shilpa Dev) ·
Brother: Actor Rahul Dev

Seven key facts at a glance:

How did actor Mukul Dev pass away?

What was the official cause of death?

Mukul Dev, brother of actor Rahul Dev, died on 23 May 2025 in New Delhi at the age of 54, according to The Indian Express (leading Indian daily). Initial reports did not immediately state a confirmed cause of death—some early speculation pointed to a possible heart attack, but this was never officially confirmed (The Indian Express live coverage). The actor had been hospitalized and was in the ICU for eight and a half days before he passed away (Hindustan Times (established Indian news portal)).

What did brother Rahul Dev reveal?

Rahul Dev, the actor’s only sibling, broke his silence shortly after Mukul’s death. In an interview with NDTV (major Indian news network), Rahul Dev stated: “He had not eaten anything in his last 5 days.” Rahul elaborated that Mukul had stopped eating completely for four to five days before his death, a fact later confirmed in a separate report by Hindustan Times. In an emotional interview with The Indian Express, Rahul said Mukul had “lost the jazbaa to live” (the will to live), had grown reclusive, and stopped interacting with friends and family.

The consequence for Mukul Dev: He died from complications of self-induced starvation, rooted in severe loneliness and loss of will to live — a slow, silent ending that his brother Rahul attributed to the absence of close family.

What health issues did Mukul Dev have?

Was Mukul Dev in ICU before death?

Yes. According to Hindustan Times, Rahul Dev confirmed that Mukul was in the ICU for eight and a half days. The hospitalization was linked to his prolonged refusal to eat, which led to severe malnutrition and organ failure. A separate report from NDTV describes the actor’s condition as a “brief illness,” but Rahul Dev stressed that the root cause was not a disease but a willful neglect of nutrition.

Did he have a specific illness?

Besides the starvation-related complications, no specific chronic illness has been publicly named. Friend and Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh told Times of India (India’s oldest English-language newspaper) that Mukul had been “depressed after his mother’s death” and was very attached to her. Media reports (including The Indian Express) characterize his final period as a “silent battle with isolation” rather than a clinical diagnosis.

The implication: Mukul Dev’s physical collapse was a symptom of emotional devastation, not an organic disease.

Why did Mukul Dev’s wife leave him?

Who was Mukul Dev’s wife?

Mukul Dev was married to Shilpa Dev, who later became his ex-wife. Reports from Times of India and multiple news outlets confirm that the couple divorced some years before Mukul’s death. He was not married at the time he passed away.

What led to their separation?

The specific reasons for the divorce have not been publicly detailed in available reports. The Indian Express live updates note only that he was “divorced” without citing causes. A Times of India profile mentions Shilpa Dev but does not elaborate on the breakdown. Mukul Dev’s marital history remains one of the least documented areas of his personal life.

Was Mukul Dev married or not?

How many wives did Mukul Dev have?

Mukul Dev had one wife: Shilpa Dev. She became his ex-wife after their divorce. All credible reports — including Times of India and NDTV — confirm he was not married at the time of his death. There is no evidence of additional marriages.

Who was his ex-wife?

Shilpa Dev is the only named spouse in Mukul Dev’s life. As of the available records (Times of India), she has not made public statements following his death.

What were Mukul Dev’s notable movies and TV serials?

Which Bollywood films did he appear in?

Mukul Dev is best known for playing the antagonist in the 2012 film Son of Sardaar, starring Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha. His filmography also includes a variety of Hindi and Punjabi films, though detailed lists have not been compiled in the sources analyzed. Times of India notes that he acted across television and regional cinema, and also trained as a pilot.

What TV shows was he known for?

The actor was a familiar face on Indian television, appearing in several series that aired in the 2000s and 2010s. Media reports from The Indian Express and NDTV describe him as a “TV actor” without listing his full portfolio. Friends have mentioned that his career never reached the same heights as his brother Rahul’s, a fact that may have contributed to his retreat from the industry.

Timeline of Mukul Dev’s final days

• 23 May 2025 – Mukul Dev dies at age 54 in New Delhi (The Indian Express).
• Shortly after death – Brother Rahul Dev reveals that Mukul stopped eating for five days, had been in ICU, and blamed loneliness (NDTV).
• Late May 2025 – Vindu Dara Singh tells Times of India that Mukul had been depressed after his mother’s death.

Confirmed facts vs. What remains unclear

What friends and family said

“He had not eaten anything in his last 5 days.”

Rahul Dev to NDTV

“He lost the jazbaa to live. He grew reclusive and stopped eating days before his death.”

Rahul Dev to The Indian Express

“Mukul was very attached to his mother. He was depressed after her death.”

Vindu Dara Singh to Times of India

“He had been living in Delhi since 2019 to look after his ailing parents. After they passed, he was all alone.”

Rahul Dev as told to NDTV

For his brother Rahul Dev and friends like Vindu Dara Singh, the truth is painful but clear: Mukul Dev didn’t die from a sudden attack or a disease—he faded away because he lost everyone who mattered. The implication for the entertainment industry is uncomfortable: the same loneliness that often shadows aging actors and those without family networks can become a death sentence. For fans and colleagues, the memory of Mukul Dev—the man who played villains on screen but became a victim of isolation off it—will now be inseparable from the quiet tragedy of his final days.