Nitesh Pandey Funeral: Anupamaa Actress Rupali Ganguly Gets EMOTIONAL As She Arrives For Co-star's Last Rites

Nitesh Pandey funeral: It's hard to believe that a talented artist like Nitesh Pandey is no more. The actor, who played the role of Dheeraj in Rupali Ganguly and Gaurav Khanna's Anupamaa, passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 51.

NAKUUL MEHTA REMEMBERS HIS ON-SCREEN DAD

The news of Nitesh Pandey's death sent shockwaves across the television industry, which is already reeling from the demise of Aditya Singh Rajput and Vaibhavi Upadhyaya. While Aditya was found dead at his apartment, Vaibhavi aka Jasmine from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai died due to a car accident.

Several small screen celebrities including Nakuul Mehta, Suchita Trivedi, Rajan Shahi, Gaurav Khanna expressed their grief over Nitesh Pandey's death. Calling him a jovial person, they mentioned that it is difficult for them to even think that he won't be shooting or meeting them.

Nakuul Mehta, who worked with Nitesh In Pyaar Ka Dard, penned a heartfelt note to mourn his loss. He wrote, "You took me under your wings from the get go! Spring of 2012 in Manali was spent shooting Pyar Ka Dard Hai, my first on Television, you made sure I accompanied you to dinner every night and insisted I drank some Old Monk to keep me warm and jolly."

He added, "The next three years of being on a set with you laid the foundation of everything I learnt and built on.. To watch you act as effortlessly as you did, enjoy food and a good drink, ferociously nurture stay dogs, shit on modern medicine, always ready with a homeopathy pill for my incessant sore throats and sniffles, your mad sense of humour, your never ending encouragement, your pride in your craft, your vision for sustainable living, your retro Honda CRV, your giving nonchalant close ups in a suit jacket and shorts under the lightman's thermocol, your joi de vivre, your Naks.. let's get a drink man.. seems so palpable and recent."

RUPALI GANGULY ARRIVES FOR NITESH PANDEY FUNERAL

Rupali Ganguly, who shared a close association with Nitesh Pandey, got emotional as she arrived for his funeral. The Bengali beauty was seen getting teary-eyed while sitting inside her car. She paid her last respect to her close friend and Anupamaa co-star.

The pain of losing her friend was visible in Rupali Ganguly's eyes. A video is going viral on the internet where Rupali Ganguly can be seen getting emotional during Nitesh Pandey's last rites.

NITESH PANDEY DEATH REASON

The actor, who worked in Badhaai Do, Dabangg 2, Om Shanti Om, died due to a cardiac arrest at a hotel in Igatpuri in Maharahstra's Nasik. He is survived by his wife Arpita Pandey and son.

On the professional front, Nitesh Pandey was last seen in Anupamaa that also stars Sudhanshu Pandey and Madalsa Sharma. He also featured in shows like Indiawaali Maa, Ek Rishta Saajhedari Ka, Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge.

We offer our deepest condolences to Nitesh Pandey's family members.

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