CHARACTER actor Junior Mehmood, known for his roles in “Caravan”, “Haathi Mere Saathi” and “Mera Naam Joker”, died on Friday following a battle with cancer, his son Hasnain said. The actor was 68. “My father passed away at 2.00 am following his battle with stomach cancer. He was in a critical condition since last 17 days. He had lost 35-40 kg in a month,” Hasnain Sayyed, Junior Mehmood’s younger son, told PTI.

 

Junior Mehmood, whose real name was Naeem Sayyed, began as a child artist with “Mohabbat Zindagi Hai” (1966) and “Naunihal” (1967). He was given the name Junior Mehmood by late comedy icon Mehmood after they starred together in the 1968 film “Suhag Raat”.According to the actor’s close friend Salaam Kazi, Junior Mehmood had pain in his stomach and was getting treated by a local doctor. But when he started losing weight, his family decided to take him to Tata Memorial Hospital.

 

“They did a check-up and the doctors over there said he had cancer in his lung and liver, and a tumour in his stomach,” Kazi added. Director Sanjay Gupta was one of the first film personalities to pay tribute to Junior Mehmood on social media. Sachin Pilgaonkar visited the actor at his residence on Tuesday after he expressed a desire to meet them. Jeetendra had shared screen space with the actor in several movies.