MUMBAI: Vijay Kadam, a renowned Marathi theatre and film actor died in Mumbai on Saturday, as confirmed by family sources, he was 68 years old. The actor has been battling cancer for the last one and a half years. He is survived by his wife and son, and his cremation took place this afternoon at the Andheri-Oshiwara crematorium. Kadam’s death has created a significant void in the Marathi entertainment industry, where his exceptional talent for portraying diverse characters was well recognized. 

Vijay Kadam who considered yesteryear actors Sharad Talwalkar and Raja Gosavi as his idols, gained real recognition for his work on stage from the 1980s to the 1990s starting his career as a child actor in theatre and earned fame in comedy roles in the 1980s. 

He rose to fame after starring in Purshottam Berde’s Marathi stage play, Tur Tur (1983-84). The play also featured late actor Laxmikanth Berde of Hum Aapke Hain Koun fame. Vijay started his acting career in theatre in the 1980s era. Apart from Tur Tur, he also worked in Viccha Majhi Puri Kara and Pappa Sanga Kunache. He went on to do diverse roles on stage as well as in television serials and films in the next two decades while he had a significant presence in theatre for a long time. 

Some of his most noted roles in his career include Rathchakra, Vichcha Majhi Puri Kara, Tur Tur, Sahi Re Sahi. He also featured in Marathi films including Irsal Karti, Vasudev Balwant Phadke and Halad Rusli Kunku Hasla. He was also seen in a few Bollywood films such as Ghar Ek Mandir and Aflatoon. 

Paying his tributes on Kadam’s death, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, in a message on X, offered a tribute to Kadam for his natural style of acting, comic timing and the ability for extempore repartee while performing on stage. “Marathi theatre has suffered a great loss due to the death of this versatile actor who enriched Maharashtra’s entertainment world,” Shinde said.

Popular Marathi and Hindi, actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar also expressed grief over the demise of Vijay Kadam. On Sunday, Sachin Pilgaonkar took to Instagram and mourned his demise.