New Delhi, July 15 -- Veteran actor and television producer Dheeraj Kumar passed away at the age of 80 on July 15 in Mumbai. He was suffering from pneumonia and was admitted at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital earlier this week after he complained of severe breathing issues. He was placed on ventilator support in the ICU.

Dheeraj Kumar was born on October 1, 1944. He began his career in the entertainment field in 1965. Kumar was a finalist in a talent competition alongside Subhash Ghai and Rajesh Khanna, with Rajesh Khanna emerging as the winner. Between 1970 and 1984, Dheeraj acted in 21 Punjabi movies. He founded a production firm named Creative Eye, where he served as the chairman and managing director.

The song "Ka Karun Sajni, A...