Mumbai: Veteran actor Gufi Paintal (79) died this morning. Gufi, best known for playing the role of ‘Shakuni Mama’ in B.R. Chopra’s TV show Mahabharat (1980), died in Mumbai due to age-related health issues.

“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,” his nephew Hiten Paintal told reporters. Hiten said that his uncle was not keeping well due to age-related health issues. He is survived by his son, daughter-in-law and a grandchild. Last rites will be held today at around 4 pm at a crematorium in Andheri.

Gufi Paintal was in the Army before coming into acting.  When war broke out in 1962, he was still in the Army and was posted on China border. Once he said that when there were no TV or radio for entertainment on the border, then Ramlila used to be organised there and Gufi used to play the role of Maa Sita. At that time Ravana used to take Sita on a scooty.

Gufi has appeared in both TV shows and films. He was seen in ‘Bahadur Shah Zafar’, ‘Mahabharat’, ‘Kanoon’, ‘Om Namah Shivay’, ‘CID’, ‘Ssshhhh Koi Hai’ ‘Dwarkadheesh Bhagwaan Shree Krishn’, ‘Radha Krishna’ and ‘Jay Kaniya lal Ki’ among other shows. He made his debut with the 1975 film ‘Rafoo Chakkar’.