Veteran actor Ramakant Dayama, known for films like Chak De! India (2007), Paa (2009) and Crew (2024), among others, passed away after a prolonged illness on Tuesday. He was 69.

Dayama had also been part of web shows like Made in Heaven (2019), Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) and Farzi (2023).

Dayama’s colleague, Shubhangi Sanjeev Latkar, took to social media to share the news of his demise. She penned a heartfelt note and also a video of him dancing to the Shammi Kapoor song ‘An evening in Paris.’

She wrote, “Today, we lost a truly beautiful soul… and I am simply speechless. Ramakant Daima was not just a dear friend and family friend to me, but someone I deeply admired and respected. Full of life, warmth, and energy. He truly knew how to enjoy life despite every challenge. A spontaneous dancer, a soulful singer, a brilliant actor, and for me, a wise advisor whose words always carried meaning. He may have looked tiny in appearance, but he was one of the strongest and most courageous people I have known. Though we all knew he had been unwell for many months, somewhere in the heart, one never stops hoping…”

She added, “We had so many unfinished plans. After years, I had truly wished to work with him again. We had decided to do a beautiful Hindi play together. When I requested him, he smiled and said, ‘Let me get well soon.’ We had even planned to present selected beautiful poems together on stage. That dream, too, now remains unfinished… Some losses leave behind a silence that words fail to express. Today feels like one of those days. You will be deeply missed, Ramakant ji. Your warmth, your courage, your art, and your beautiful spirit will always remain alive in our hearts. May your soul rest in peace.”

Dayama was last seen in the Kajol-led series The Trial. He is survived by wife Dr. Asha Naithani and daughter Yashaswini Dayama, who is also an actor and has been part of web series like Adulting (2018), Delhi Crime (2018) and Bandish Bandits (2020).