Shah Rukh Khan’s Devdas co-actor Vijay Krishna dies at 81; Anupam Kher paid tribute
Shah Rukh Khan’s Devdas co-star Vijay Krishna passes away at the age of 81. Anupam Kher, Lillete Dubey and others paid emotional tribute to the late actor.
Actor Vijay Krishna, who played the role of Shahrukh Khan’s father in director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Devdas (2002), passed away at the age of 81. Anupam Kher, Lillete Dubey and other actors from theatre, film and television expressed their condolences. Krishna is survived by his wife Smita Krishna, a prominent businesswoman, and his daughter Nairika Holkar.
The reason for the actor’s death has not been revealed yet by the family. Lillete Dubey described him as a brilliant actor, adding that he was much loved and will never be forgotten.
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Dubey’s Instagram post read, “Heartbroken.. our dearest Vijay Krishna.. part of our theater family and ‘Dance Like a Man’ for over 25 years.. has passed away.. a man of many parts.. a brilliant actor, handsome, charming, bright with trademark humor with his dry tongue in cheeks, he was deeply loved and respected by all of us.. so many memories flood the heart and mind and leave me overwhelmed are..(sic)”
The post concluded, “RIP my Jayraj..you will never be forgotten..may you entertain the angels just like you did to all of us here..love and prayers to his lovely wife Smita, girls Nayrica and Freyan and the entire family..(sic).” Anupam Kher commented, “This is so sad. Om Shanti!”
Apart from being an actor, Krishna was also an environmentalist and former executive director of businesses run by the Godrej family. Krishna was a very well-known face in Indian theatre, where he performed for over 25 years. She received critical acclaim for her role in the 2004 English film dance like a manWhich was based on a play by Mahesh Dattani. The film, which also stars Shobhana, Arif Zakaria and Anushka Shankar, also won the National Film Award. In Bollywood, he is best remembered for playing Shahrukh Khan’s father in the 2002 film DevdasWhere he worked with stars like Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit.
Apart from acting, Krishna held a senior role as an executive director in the Godrej family businesses. He served as a non-executive, non-independent director since 1995, eventually resigning from the Godrej Industries board in 2021 due to his age. Beyond the boardroom, he was highly respected for his commitment to environmental issues and his support of the arts. His wife Smita Krishna is a prominent businessman with a net worth of $2.5 billion. At the end of 2024, his wife and Jamshed Godrej were ranked 22nd on the Forbes list of India’s richest people.
The family has not yet issued any statement on Krishna’s death.