<p>Legendary film and TV actor Gufi Paintal - best known for playing the role of Shakuni Mama in BR Chopra’s tele-serial Mahabharat - passed away in Mumbai on Monday. </p>.<p>He was 79. Born on 4 October, 1944, Sarabjeet Singh Paintal, he initially trained as an engineer, he would go on to follow his younger brother Kanwarjit Paintal, better known as Paintal - who had been trained at the Film and Television Institute of India into acting. </p>.<p>Paintal directed the movie, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which sketches the life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th-century devotee of Krishna who is recognised as an incarnation of the god by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. </p>.<p>In 2010 he was appointed head of facility at the Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai, a school established by his Mahabharata co-star Pankaj Dheer</p>.<p>The veteran actor was admitted at a hospital in suburban Andheri.</p>.<p>"Unfortunately, he is no more. He passed away at the hospital at around 9 am. His heart gave up. He passed away peacefully in his sleep," Hiten told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>Hiten had earlier told <em>PTI </em>that his uncle was not keeping well due to age-related health issues.</p>.<p>"He had blood pressure and heart issues. He was keeping unwell and all this was going on for a while. Things got severe now so we got him to the hospital for observation. He has been in the hospital for seven to eight days. He was critical initially, but right now he is stable," Hiten had told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>Paintal's acting credits also include 1980s Hindi films such as <em>Suhaag</em>, <em>Dillagi</em>, <em>Des Pardes, Rafoo Chakkar</em>, as well as television shows <em>CID</em> and <em>Hello Inspector</em>, but his manipulative uncle act as Shakuni mama from BR Chopra's <em>Mahabharat</em> made him a household name.</p>.<p>He is survived by his son, daughter-in-law and a grandchild. “We express condolences on the demise of Gufi Paintal,” said Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), which is a trade union, looking after the rights and welfare of its members in the entertainment industry.</p>.<p>The last rites will be held today at around 4 pm at a crematorium in suburban Andheri.</p>
<p>Legendary film and TV actor Gufi Paintal - best known for playing the role of Shakuni Mama in BR Chopra’s tele-serial Mahabharat - passed away in Mumbai on Monday. </p>.<p>He was 79. Born on 4 October, 1944, Sarabjeet Singh Paintal, he initially trained as an engineer, he would go on to follow his younger brother Kanwarjit Paintal, better known as Paintal - who had been trained at the Film and Television Institute of India into acting. </p>.<p>Paintal directed the movie, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which sketches the life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th-century devotee of Krishna who is recognised as an incarnation of the god by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. </p>.<p>In 2010 he was appointed head of facility at the Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai, a school established by his Mahabharata co-star Pankaj Dheer</p>.<p>The veteran actor was admitted at a hospital in suburban Andheri.</p>.<p>"Unfortunately, he is no more. He passed away at the hospital at around 9 am. His heart gave up. He passed away peacefully in his sleep," Hiten told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>Hiten had earlier told <em>PTI </em>that his uncle was not keeping well due to age-related health issues.</p>.<p>"He had blood pressure and heart issues. He was keeping unwell and all this was going on for a while. Things got severe now so we got him to the hospital for observation. He has been in the hospital for seven to eight days. He was critical initially, but right now he is stable," Hiten had told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>Paintal's acting credits also include 1980s Hindi films such as <em>Suhaag</em>, <em>Dillagi</em>, <em>Des Pardes, Rafoo Chakkar</em>, as well as television shows <em>CID</em> and <em>Hello Inspector</em>, but his manipulative uncle act as Shakuni mama from BR Chopra's <em>Mahabharat</em> made him a household name.</p>.<p>He is survived by his son, daughter-in-law and a grandchild. “We express condolences on the demise of Gufi Paintal,” said Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), which is a trade union, looking after the rights and welfare of its members in the entertainment industry.</p>.<p>The last rites will be held today at around 4 pm at a crematorium in suburban Andheri.</p>