Sachin Pilgaonkar Recalls Sanjeev Kumar’s Final Moments
Veteran actor shares the heartbreaking moment he discovered Sanjeev Kumar's lifeless body after arriving late for a meeting the legendary star had insisted on earlier that morning.
Sachin Pilgaonkar Recalls Sanjeev Kumar’s Final Moments
Veteran actor Sachin Pilgaonkar has recalled one of the most heartbreaking moments of his life—the day he found legendary Bollywood actor Sanjeev Kumar dead inside his bedroom. Speaking about the tragic incident that took place on November 6, 1985, Sachin revealed that Sanjeev Kumar had specifically asked him to visit early that morning, but work commitments delayed his arrival.
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In an interview with Bollywood Aaj Aur Kal, Sachin said he had met Sanjeev Kumar a day before his death while the veteran actor was busy dubbing. During their conversation, Sachin told him he wanted to meet him the following day.
“He asked me to come in the morning. I told him I would visit in the afternoon instead. He even asked if I could come a little earlier, but I had work to finish. He simply said, ‘Okay,’” Sachin recalled.
Sachin reached Sanjeev Kumar’s residence at around 2:30 PM, where the staff informed him that the actor was inside his room. Initially, they believed he was taking a bath, but as time passed, concern started growing.
The staff later informed Sachin that Sanjeev Kumar was unwell and that his secretary had gone to bring a doctor. According to Sachin, doctors were informed that the actor had vomited and had returned home very late the previous night after work.
Concerned about his close friend, Sachin questioned why Sanjeev Kumar had continued working despite feeling unwell. As more time passed and nobody was willing to enter the bedroom, he sensed something was seriously wrong.
“I realised something wasn’t right. No one was ready to go inside the room, so I decided to open the door myself. I thought he might be changing clothes, and if so, I would apologise and close the door,” he said.
When Sachin slowly opened the bedroom door, the sight before him left him devastated.
“At first, I couldn’t see anyone. Then I noticed two legs lying on the carpet. He was lying face down on the floor, and one of his hands was stretched towards the door. I screamed and immediately called the doctor,” Sachin revealed.
Doctors rushed inside and attempted to revive Sanjeev Kumar by performing chest compressions. However, they soon confirmed that the legendary actor had passed away much earlier.
“When the doctor said he had died long before we entered the room, the ground slipped beneath my feet,” Sachin said, remembering the heartbreaking moment.
Sanjeev Kumar died of a massive heart attack on November 6, 1985, at the age of 47. Friends later revealed that his lifestyle, including excessive drinking, late-night work schedules and irregular eating habits, had severely affected his health.
Actor Parikshit Sahni had earlier stated that Sanjeev Kumar’s heavy workload and unhealthy routine contributed to his deteriorating condition. It was also revealed that the actor had rented a flat in Mumbai’s Pali Hill where he would gather with close friends for late-night parties.
Another memorable anecdote came from late actress Tabassum, who once recalled Sanjeev Kumar telling her that an astrologer had predicted he would not live long enough to experience old age. According to her, the actor often chose elderly roles on screen because he believed he would never get to live that phase in real life.
