Gufi Paintal is no more: Mahabharat cast and crew remember their ‘friend, philosopher, and guide’

Mahabharat's director Renu Ravi Chopra said that the late actor is incomparable as Shakuni, while the cast called him a "humble friend and colleague"

Gufi Paintal in a scene from Mahabharat

Actor Gufi Paintal, who played Shakuni Mama in the epic series Mahabharat, passed away earlier today at the age of 78.

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The entire cast and crew of the show are in mourning, especially director Renu Ravi Chopra, who worked closely with the late actor.

Calling Gufi Paintal an integral part of BR Films, the production house of Mahabharat, Renu told ETimes, "Shakuni will always be remembered and remain incomparable".

Among the cast members of Mahabharat who remembered the late actor, Nitish Bharadwaj, who played Lord Krishna on the show, reminisced about the close relationship he shared with Gufi Paintal.

Nitish said, "As a struggling actor, he was the first person I met at BR Films. We went on to become good friends. Although Shakuni hated Krishna, Gufi always appreciated my work. I have lost a humble friend and colleague."

Firoz Khan, who played Arjun in the show, said that Gufi Paintal was "one of the pioneers of Mahabharat." Speaking about his ties with the late actor, Firoz said, "I shared a good relationship with Gufi. He was a friend, philosopher, and guide to me. He was like a father figure. He was a lovely human being and a pure soul."

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