Bollywood paparazzo Pradeep Bandekar (70) dies; Ajay, Shabana pay condolences
What's the story
Pradeep Bandekar, a veteran Bollywood photographer known for his close association with celebrities, died on Sunday (August 11). He was 70.
Bandekar was a well-known figure in the film industry and had worked with several reputed publications in Mumbai, including Mid-day.
He was known for his relationships with Bollywood bigwigs such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, and Deepika Padukone.
Sudden loss
Bandekar's sudden demise left the industry in shock
News of Bandekar's demise was shared on Instagram by a fellow paparazzo.
The post detailed the suddenness of his passing: "He was fine until last night and had gone out with his family members."
"Late at night, he started feeling uneasy, and his son, Prathmesh, decided to take him to the doctor. However, before he could do anything, Pradeep took his last breath."
The cause of his sudden demise hasn't been revealed.
Condolences
Bollywood mourned the loss of Bandekar
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh expressed his condolences in the comments section of the post: "This is upsetting...He was a good man. Full of positivity. May his soul rest in peace."
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi also paid her respects with a simple "RIP."
Ajay Devgn took to X/Twitter to pay his condolences. He wrote, "Pradeep Bandekar ji's passing is a personal loss...His decades-long bond with our family goes beyond the lens....He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered."
Twitter Post
Here's the post by Devgn
Pradeep Bandekar ji’s passing is a personal loss…His decades-long bond with our family goes beyond the lens….He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered. Om Shanti🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/faer1ewcpg
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) August 11, 2024
Tribute
'Pradeep-jee was a close family friend,' says Chaitanya Padukone
Entertainment journalist Chaitanya Padukone remembered Bandekar fondly: "Pradeep-jee besides being an excellent veteran still photographer, was a close friend."
Padukone praised Bandekar's dedication and skill at capturing candid photos, and his personal touch in delivering photos for Padukone's weekly film column in Mid-Day for over 18 years.
He also revealed that one of Bandekar's dreams was to publish a coffee table book of his curated pictures of film legends—a project he hoped would materialize by the end of the year.