Veteran actor Naeem Sayyed, known as Junior Mehmood, breathed his last on Friday at his home in Khar, Mumbai. He passed away after a prolonged battle with stomach cancer. He was 67.
The news of his demise was confirmed by his family via a statement. Indian Express quoted his family as saying, “Junior Mehmood passed away at 2:15 am at his residence. He was suffering from stomach cancer. May his eternal soul rest in peace.”
Junior Mehmood’s son Husnain further informed, “We came to know about his fourth-stage stomach cancer only 18 days ago. We took him to Tata Memorial Hospital. The dean there told us that treatment and chemotherapy at this stage would be very painful. The hospital had suggested that we take care of him at home.”
As for his film career, he started off as a child artiste with ‘Mohabbat Zindagi Hai’ (1966). Other films to his credit include ‘Naunihal’, ‘Caravan’, ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’, ‘Mera Naam Joker’, ‘Suhaag Raat’, ‘Brahmachari’, ‘Kati Patang’, ‘Hare Raama Hare Krishna’, ‘Gurudev’, ‘Judaai’, among others. He was given the screen name Junior Mehmood by legendary comedy icon Mehmood himself after they starred together in the 1968 film ‘Suhaag Raat’.
He also features in TV in shows like ‘Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara’ and ‘Ek Rishta Saajhedari Ka’, and even produced and directed several Marathi movies.
His funeral will take place today at Santacruz cemetery. Junior Mehmood is survived by his wife Lata and two sons.
Several celebrities including Jeetendra, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Johny Lever had visited the actor before he passed away. Jeetendra paid a visit to Junior Mehmood's residence after he expressed a desire to meet him. Jeetendra, 81, was accompanied by actor Johnny Lever, 66.
