Indian actor Farooq Shaikh, 65, passed away on Friday after suffering a heart attack. The Bollywood legend was in Dubai visiting family at the time. His funeral was held in Mumbai on December 28.

Shaikh was best known for his work in Hindi films from 1977 to 1989, as well as for his work in television between 1988 and 2002. Shaikh, also a philanthropist, returned to the silver screen 2008, and won the 2010 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for “Lahorere.” His most notable films include Satyajit Ray’s “Shatranj Ke Khiladi (Chess Players)” (1977), “Noorie” (1979), “Chashme Buddoor” (1981), Umrao Jaan (1981), Bazaar (1982), Saath Saath (1982), Rang Birangi (1983), Kissi Se Na Kehna (1983) and Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988).

The slightly plump, unlikely leading man had in 2002 commented to the Times of India on his popularity, “I have never been commercially viable: People recognize me, smile and wave at me – but I have never received marriage proposals written in blood. In his heyday, when Rajesh Khanna drove down a street, the traffic stopped – I don’t mind not receiving this kind of adulation. But I do miss not having been able to command the kind of work I wanted. I miss not being 100 per cent commercially viable.”

Here’s a clip from 1982’s “Bazaar,” featuring Shaikh, Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah, directed by Sagar Sarhadi:

Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi, tweeted on Shaikh’s passing:

Rehne ko sada dehr mein aata nahi koi /Tum jaise gaye aise bhi jaata nahi koi..Farewell dearest friend Farooque Shaikh RIP

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) December 28, 2013

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan tweeted:

T 1336 -God !! Farooq Sheikh passes away !!? A true gentleman, a wonderful colleague ! A quiet honesty about him. Very very sad !

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 28, 2013

T 1336 -Farooq Sheikh !! Cannot believe he has gone. There was an absence of any kind of pretence in his demeanour, or towards his work !!

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 28, 2013

Shaikh is survived by wife Rupa Jain, and daughters Shaista and Sanaa.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.