Bollywood actor Sitaram Panchal, best known for his epic performance in Irrfan Khan’s ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, passed away on Thursday morning after a three-year long battle with kidney and lung cancer. He was just 54 years old.
The actor complained of breathlessness earlier in the morning and was rushed to the hospital. He passed away there at around 7.45 am. His last rituals will take place this evening.
Sitaram was suffering from kidney and lung cancer and was also facing financial crisis. Last month, he had put up social media posts seeking financial help for his treatment.
Speaking to HT, his wife Uma had said in grief that -he’s been bedridden for the past 10 months. “Ever since the cancer was detected in January 2014, he has taken Ayurvedic treatment. It was only recently that he started a new homeopathic medicine, following which, his condition worsened and we discontinued the medicines” .
It was only yesterday that the 54-year-old actor celebrated his twenty-sixth wedding anniversary. His son Rishabh Panchal and wife Uma Panchal had even shared a family picture on Facebook.
Even after Haryana government offered Rs 5 lakh for the actor’s treatment, he continued his Ayurvedic medicine and did not took any allopathic treatment.
Cine & TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) also appealed all to help the ailing late actor by posting a message on their Facebook wall. The post read: “It really pains us to hear the suffering of our esteemed member Shri Sitaram Panchal. We assure him of all the help we can provide to him in his hour of need and also urge all of you to open your hearts.”