From Class 8 Paycheck to Shah Rukh Khan’s Junior in School: A Glimpse into Mukul Dev’s Life Journey
He underwent pilot training at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (National Flying Academy) in Raebareli.
Actor Mukul Dev passed away on Friday at the age of 54. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to health-related issues. The news of his demise was confirmed by his close friend and actor Vindu Dara Singh. Mukul had appeared in several notable films, including Yamla Pagla Deewana, Son of Sardaar, R… Rajkumar, and Jai Ho.
He is survived by his daughter, Sia Dev, from his previous marriage to Shilpa Dev. Here’s a look at some lesser-known and fascinating aspects of Mukul Dev’s life.
Born in 1970 in New Delhi to a Punjabi family, Mukul’s father served as an Assistant Commissioner of Police. As per reports, a biopic based on his father’s life is currently under development. Mukul received his first payment during his school days when he was in Class 8, after performing a Michael Jackson-style dance at a school event.
Besides acting, Mukul was also a certified pilot and had worked as a commercial pilot for several years before stepping into films. He completed his aviation training at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi in Raebareli.
In one of his Instagram posts, Mukul had shared a video clip where he could be seen flying an aircraft through the clouds. The caption on the post read, “And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too… I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon. #crosscountry.”
He entered the entertainment industry due to his interest in modelling and acting. Mukul was originally set to make his debut in a film titled “Naam Kya Hain”, under the banner of ABCL, Amitabh Bachchan’s production house. However, the film was eventually shelved.
Mukul made his official Bollywood debut with the 1996 film Dastak, which featured Sushmita Sen. Although he got some attention initially, offers for leading roles soon dried up. He later found his footing in supporting roles in films such as Yamla Pagla Deewana and Son of Sardaar, among others. His most recent film was the 2022 mystery-thriller Anth The End, in which he starred alongside Divya Dutta, Dev Sharma, and Samikssha Bhatnagar.
On television, the 54-year-old actor was also a familiar face. He acted in several well-known daily serials such as Gharwali Uparwali, Kasshish, and others.
Mukul also shared a school connection with Shah Rukh Khan through his elder brother, Rahul Dev, who studied at St. Columba’s School in Delhi — the same institution attended by SRK. Mukul, too, completed his schooling from there, making him Shah Rukh Khan’s junior.
