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Mumbai: Big shock to TV industry as Dinesh Phadnis, a renowned Indian actor best known for his role as Freddy in the long-running television series CID, has passed away. The heartbreaking news was confirmed by his co-star and close friend Dayanand Shetty. Phadnis, who suffered from a serious health condition, left a legacy in the Indian television landscape and left an indelible mark with his portrayal of a cop in most of his projects.
Phadnis, suffering from severe liver damage, was under medical care at Tunga Hospital in Mumbai. Contrary to initial reports suspecting cardiac arrest, Shetty clarified that the actor was fighting liver-related ailments. His fans as well as the entire CID team and the wider entertainment industry were hopeful of his speedy recovery. But the actor breathed his last at around midnight. His last rites will be held today.
Dinesh Phadnis was on ventilator support since December 2. While several media reports suggested that the actor was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack, his co-star Dayanand Shetty later scraps the report of a heart attack. “Dinesh Phadnis is hospitalised and on a ventilator, doctors are observing him. He has not suffered a heart attack, it is a different treatment and I wouldn’t like to comment on it,” Dayanand, who played the role of Senior Inspector Daya in CID, told sources.
Dinesh Phadnis, fondly remembered by fans as Freddy, was not only known for his acting skills but also as a screenwriter for a few episodes of CID. Apart from CID, Phadnis was also seen in the court show and had a special role as an inspector in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. On the big screen, he played a police inspector in the Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh (1999) and in the 2001 film Officer, starring Sunil Shetty and Raveena Tandon.
57-year-old Phadnis, known for his comic timing and innocence, was part of the CID team headed by ACP Pradyuman, played by Shivaji Satam. His character, Fredericks, was loved by the audience for his comic timing and light-hearted interactions with other characters of the show, especially with Shivaji Satam’s ACP Pradyuman. His death, which occurred on Monday (December 4), is a significant loss in the entertainment industry. However, his memorable performance in CID and his contribution to Indian television will remain immortal among the audiences.
