Dinesh Phadnis, a veteran Indian television actor best known for his role as Inspector Frederick “Freddy” Pereira in the long-running crime drama CID, has died at the age of 57. Phadnis passed away around midnight on Monday, December 4th, 2023 in Mumbai’s Tunga Hospital after being hospitalized for liver failure.
Dinesh Phadnis’ Long Battle with Liver Damage
Dinesh Phadnis was admitted to the intensive care unit at Tunga Hospital on December 1st after suffering extensive liver damage. According to his CID co-star Dayanand Shetty, who played Senior Inspector Daya on the show, the damage was likely caused by an adverse reaction to medication Dinesh Phadnis had been taking for another ailment. Shetty told the media, “Dinesh was getting treated for some other ailment but the medication affected his liver adversely. One should be very careful regarding allopathic medicines.”
Over the past few days, Shetty has been sharing regular updates on Dinesh Phadnis’ declining health condition. Earlier reports that Dinesh Phadnis had suffered a heart attack were dismissed by Shetty, who clarified it was a liver failure that landed the actor in the hospital. On Sunday, December 3rd, Shetty revealed “there’s no major improvement” in Phadnis’ status, which remained critical leading up to his death the next day.
Two Decades as Freddy on CID
Phadnis was best recognized for his long-running role as Freddy, a bumbling yet lovable forensic expert on CID. Having joined the show just two years after it first premiered in 1998, he would go on to portray the beloved character for over 20 years until the show ended its historic 21-year run in 2018. With his trademark moustache and innocence, Freddy provided comic relief while aiding the CID team of inspectors in solving perplexing crimes.
Outside of CID, Phadnis also made appearances in other popular Indian television series over his three-decade career, including a cameo in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2016. But it was his turn as Freddy that made him a fixture in households across India during CID’s storied tenure as the country’s longest-running TV drama.
Tributes Pour in from the Entertainment Industry
News of Phadnis’ demise was met with tributes and remembrances from co-stars and colleagues in the Indian television industry. Shetty expressed his condolences, saying “We’re hoping he gets better soon.” But after Phadnis spent his final days on life support, the ventilator was eventually turned off around midnight leading to his tragic passing.
Resham Tipnis, who played Inspector Shivani on CID, said of her former co-star, “I am deeply saddened by the news…My heartfelt condolences. May his soul rest in peace and may God give strength to his family.” Several other CID alumni including Shraddha Musale, Hrishikesh Pandey, and Aditya Shrivastava paid tribute on social media as well.
Beyond his acting roles, Phadnis was remembered as a helpful and caring person by those close to him. Sayantani Ghosh, who previously worked with Phadnis on the soap opera Kumkum, reflected on his positive nature, commenting, “Dinesh ji was genuinely a very sweet man… He had no pretensions, he was very cordial with people around him. He always had a smile on his face.”
Phadnis leaves behind his mother and brother, who were both bedside with the actor during his final days in hospital according to Shetty. His mother was particularly shaken by her son’s passing and had to be consoled by the CID cast. After nearly 25 years of entertaining Indian television audiences, the loss of Dinesh Phadnis serves as another reminder to cherish each day and appreciate those around us while they are still here. May his vibrant legacy live on through the smiles he brought to so many faces over the years.
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