Veteran actor and social activist Chandrashekhar Vaidya passes away at 98

Veteran Bollywood actor and social activist Chandrashekhar Vaidya passed away on today morning, June 16. He was 98. He was best known for playing Arya Sumant in the television series, ‘Ramayan’. Chandrashekhar's son, professor Ashok Chandra Shekhar, reportedly informed that his last rites will take place at 4 pm at Vile Parle Crematorium in Mumbai. He died of old-age ailments.

An ETimes report quoted Amit Behl, joint Secretary at CINTAA, confirming the actor’s sad demise as he said, "It is a big loss. Chandrashekhar sir, along with Asha Parekh, Mithunda, Amrish Puri, Amjad Khan and Ram Mohan, was instrumental in getting the land from the government where our new building is now coming up. We were so looking forward to having his presence at the inauguration, but fate had other plans." 

Chandrashekar's son Ashok told ETimes, "Daddy passed away in sleep. He had no issues with his health. He was in the hospital for a day, last Thursday. We brought him back home and had kept all facilities including oxygen at our disposal if the need would arise. He was okay last night. The end was peaceful. We plan to perform the last rites at Pawan Hans in Vile Parle today at 4 pm."

Chandrashekhar Vaidya was a popular actor of the 1950's and he worked in films like Kaali Topi Laal Rumaal, Baradari, Street Singer and Rustom e Baghdad. 

Chandrashekhar also introduced the Cha Cha Cha dance to Indian cinema with a film of the same name in 1964 and has appeared in over 112 films since his debut in Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani in 1954 by V Shantaram. His other works include Kati Patang, Basant Bahar and Sharabi. Chandrashekhar was also part of Ramanand Sagar's TV series Ramayana.