MUMBAI
Nilu Phule, the most hated villain on Marathi silver screen and among the most respected actors owing to his relentless social work, died of cancer on Monday in Pune.
Nilu Phule, the most hated villain on the Marathi screen and among the most respected actors in Marathi cinema owing to his relentless social work, died of cancer on Monday in Pune. He was 79. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son-in-law.
According to doctors at the Jehangir Hospital in Pune, Phule died of advanced cancer of the oesophagus which had spread to various organs, including the brain.
Owing to his ill health, Phule had been confined to his house for the past three months. He was admitted to hospital last Sunday and shifted to the intensive care unit on Tuesday after which he was shifted back to a special room where he was kept on support systems. He died at around 2am on Monday.
Neelkanth Krushnaji Phule, better known as Nilu Phule, was one among six brothers and four sisters. Phule, who acted in over 150 films, including more than 25 Hindi films, had worked with legends like Dilip Kumar as well as Amitabh Bachchan. He was admired by Bachchan during the filming of Coolie, while Dilip Kumar insisted Phule be served the same meals as himself on the sets of Mashaal.
Phule began his career with the Kala Pathak (Performing Arts Troupe) of the Rashtra Seva Dal. He acted in Pudhari Pahije (written by PL Deshpande), Binbiyache Zhad (A Tree Without Seeds), and Kunacha Kunala Mel Nahi, which were essentially vag natyas (tamashas).
His performance in the late Amrut Gore's Katha Akalechya Kandyachi gave him recognition as an actor and his performances caught the attention of famous director Anant Mane. Mane offered him a role in his movie Ek Gav Bara Bhangadi, which proved to be the turning point in Phule's life, as the character Jhele Anna became a household name.
Phule soon became the most sought-after villain in the Marathi film industry. Due to his unassuming and shy nature, he, however, could not refuse many of the stereotypical roles offered to him, and his image of a cunning rural politician became a trademark.
Although he acted in some films like Harya Narya Zindabad as a hero, Phule was more famous as a villain. His role of Sakharam Binder in the late Vijay Tendulkar’s landmark Marathi play Sakharam Binder created history as the play had become controversial and resulted in statewide agitations.
Phule received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the president in 1991. The Maharashtra government also felicitated him with the best actor award on three successive occasions. Phule received the Natya Darpan Award for his role in the famous play Sooryasta (Sunset).
The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad felicitated Phule with the Jayantrao Tilak Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Russia plans to boost birth rate with 'Ministry of Sex', here's how
Jharkhand HC issues notice to MS Dhoni in business deal case, asks him to...
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs South Africa match
Meet IAS officer, aka 'Collector Bro', who cracked UPSC exam in 2007, now suspended due to...
Here’s why Chunky Panday wouldn’t stay in Shah Rukh Khan’s house in London
Yash's Toxic in trouble? FIR filed against producers of KGF star's upcoming actioner for illegal...
Meet Dr Priti Challa, Kangana Ranaut film director Krish Jagarlamudi's second wife, she leads...
Yaariyan actor Himansh Kohli ties the knot with mystery girl in Delhi temple, first wedding pics out
‘Sometimes I wish I was more tough, more thick-skinned,’ says Aishwarya Rai in viral video
KL Rahul sweats hard in Perth nets ahead of BGT series, WATCH video here
Shahid Kapoor, wife Mira Kapoor rent out their Rs 580000000 luxury Mumbai apartment for Rs...
South Korean actor Song Jae-rim dies at 39 in Seoul apartment
Viral video: Thar SUV gets stuck on railway track after man tries to shoot reel, watch here
Elon Musk's new X post claims Putin must not be blamed for Russia-Ukraine war, instead names…
Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi reveals 'Mom used chilli powder in my...'
My experiences with dating apps
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals how company got its name, says 'we wanted…'
Key Differences Between the Indian Stock Market and Global Indices
Stock prices vs company valuation: Is your stock worth it?
Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on Kapil Sharma's show after five years, but there's a twist
Mukesh Ambani set to invest Rs 65000 crore in THIS Indian state, it will be Reliance's biggest...
Mohammed Shami to return to competitive cricket; star pacer set to play for…
Makoons World School brings a new approach to K-12 education across India
Pakistan Cricket looking to take BIG step on Champions Trophy issue, planning to...
Did Isha Ambani lend Neetu Kapoor her Navratna necklace? Reddit users react
J-K: Gunfight underway between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora
Viral video shows women as 'live mannequins' in mall, sparks fury; WATCH
As Vistara bids goodbye, Air India-Vistara's first flight takes off from Mumbai to...
GATE 2025 Schedule: Exams to begin from February 1; Check full timetable here
CBSE announces BIG changes in Class 10,12 board exams 2025, know details here
Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra dies at 86
Isha Ambani graces Diwali party as she walks with her twins, husband, WATCH
Donald Trump plans to pick Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State: Report
Vadodara IOCL refinery fire: Death toll rises to 2; probe underway
Shah Rukh Khan death threat: Mumbai police arrest accused from Chhattisgarh's Raipur
Delhi reports record high chikungunya, malaria cases in 5 years
Japan's Nara deer's polite bow to Indian woman leaves netizens in awe, WATCH
Meet MS Dhoni’s sister Jayanti Gupta who works as teacher, is married CSK star's...
Pakistani TikTok star Minhal Malik's popularity soars in India, sees unprecedented 100-time surge
Seo Hyun Jin dramatically apologises to BTS ARMY, says 'I know a lot of...'
Amid threats of violent protests, Brampton Triveni temple cancels event
Mike Waltz, India caucus head, named Donald Trump's National Security Advisor
Mukesh Khanna returns as Shaktimaan, 90s kids dance with joy
This Indian man owns a train, he's not Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, has net worth of...
SSC CHSL Exam 2024 admit cards to be released today at ssc.gov.in; get direct link here
‘He will play his last game in…’: CSK CEO provides massive update on MS Dhoni’s IPL future