By Shruti Kaushal

With the Covid pandemic unrelenting in its second year, the grim reaper found his way into many famous homes taking away their residents. Untimely demises due to death by suicide to accidents, we bid adieu to notable politicians, artists, celebrities, journalists, who inspired people with their creativity, humanity, and notable works.

With 2022 barely a fortnight away, let’s take a look at the bold and the beautiful who left for us in 2021.

Dilip Kumar

Born as Yousuf Khan, legendary Dilip Kumar enthralled Indian cinema lovers with his unmatched acting. The actor’s actor passed away on July 7, 2021, after prolonged age-related ailments leaving Indian cinema poorer and desolate in the age of OTTs pipping theatres and multiplexes. He was 98.

Mannu Bhandari

Renowned novelist and teacher, Mannu Bhandari was popular for her short stories and novels like Mahabhoj and Aap Ka Bunty. She passed away on November 15, 2021, in Gurugram. She was 90.

Sidharth Shukla

Bigg Boss 13 winner actor Sidharth Shukla shot to fame through his stint in Colors TV serial Balika Vadhu. He went on to appear in Karan Johar’s film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and several reality shows which gained him wide recognition. Sidharth passed away on September 2, 2021, due to a massive heart attack. He was 40.

Kamla Bhasin

The flagbearer of feminism in India, Kamla Bhasin raised awareness about gender inequalities and their consequent rights through her poetry, songs, and books. She passed away on September 25, 2021, after she was diagnosed with an advanced form of liver cancer. She was 75.

Danish Siddiqui

Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed on July 16, 2021, while covering a clash between Afghan and Taliban security forces. Later, the reports said that Siddiqui was tortured by the Taliban after verifying his identity. He was 38. He had shot to fame with his images chronicling the devastation the second wave of Covid-19 wreaked across Delhi with his pictures of burning funeral pyres in East Delhi.

Puneeth Rajkumar

Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar passed away due to a cardiac arrest on October 29, 2021. He was 46 and his last rites were performed in Karnataka. The youngest of the three sons of Kannada film legend Rajkumar who held his own in the film-rich South India.

Rohit Sardana

Popular Indian television anchor Rohit Sardana succumbed to Covid-19 complications on April 30, 2021. He was 41 and is survived by his wife and 2 daughters. 

Shravan Rathod

Shravan Rathod of the Nadeem-Shravan duo died due to Covid-19 complications on April 22, 2021. He was one of the most-accomplished music composers of the Hindi music industry. His notable works are Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin, Saajan, Sadak, to name a few.

Raj Kaushal

Indian producer-director Raj Kaushal passed away on June 30, 2021, after suffering a heart attack. He was 50 and is survived by his wife Mandira Bedi and two kids. His last directorial, Akkad Bakkad Rafu Chakkar released on November 2 this year.

Bikramjeet Kanwarpal

Bollywood actor Bikramjeet Kanwarpal died on May 1, 2021, after battling against Covid-19. He was 52 and had been a part of blockbuster films, TV shows, and web series. 

Babasaheb Purandare

Padma Vibhusan Babasaheb Purandare was an Indian author and historian who passed away on November 15, 2021. He died due to age-related ailments and pneumonitis.

Nandu Natekar

Nandu Natekar, an ace Indian shuttler, was the first Indian to win a title abroad in 1956. He bagged over 100 national and international titles for the nation. He died on July 28, 2021, due to age-related medical complications. He was 88.

Surekha Sikri

Noted Indian actor Surekha Sikri died on July 16, 2021, due to a cardiac arrest. She was 75 and was ailing for a long time. Her remarkable body of work includes Badhaai Ho, Tamas, Mammo, Zubeidaa, Parinati, Nazar, and others.

Yashpal Sharma

Yashpal Sharma, India’s 1983 World Cup hero, died due to a massive heart attack on July 13, 2021. He was 66 and is survived by his wife, a son, and two daughters.

Milkha Singh

India’s Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh died on June 18, 2021, after a month-long battle against Covid-19. The Padma Shri awardee had lost his wife to the pandemic. He was 91 and is survived by his son and three daughters.

Sunderlal Bahuguna

Chipko Movement leader and Indian environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna succumbed to the coronavirus on May 21, 2021, at AIIMS, Rishikesh. He was 94.

Vinod Dua

Senior Indian journalist Vinod Dua died on December 4, 2021, after a prolonged illness following a Covid-19 infection. He was 67. In 2008, he was honoured by the Padma Shri for Journalism by the Government of India. Like Milkha Singh, Vinod Dua also lost his wife to the pandemic.

Ghanshyam Nayak

Ghanshyam Nayak aka Nattu Kaka in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah passed away on October 3, 2021. He was 77 and was battling cancer for a long time.

Nanda Prusty

Indian teacher Nanda Prusty died on December 7, 2021. He had been awarded the Padma Shri on November 9 for his contribution in the field of education and social service. He was 104.

General Bipin Rawat

The first Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian armed forces, General Bipin Rawat, died on December 8, 2021, in a helicopter crash. Thirteen of the fourteen people boarded on the Mi-17V5 helicopter, including Bipin Rawat’s wife Madhulika Rawat were killed in the crash. The lone survivor passed away in less than a week.

James Michael Tyler

James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther in the popular American sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S., died on October 24, 2021. He was 59 and was battling prostate cancer.

Barry Harris

American jazz pianist Barry Harris died on December 8, 2021. He was 91 and passed seven days before his 92nd birthday due to Covid-19 complications. In 2000, Barry was honoured with the American Jazz Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievements and Contributions to the World of Jazz.

Dusty Hill

ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill passed away on July 28, 2021. He is said to have died in his sleep at his residence in Houston, Texas. He was 72.

Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts, the drummer of the Rolling Stones, died on August 24, 2021. He was 80. The musician is regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time, and the quietest of the famously raucous Stones.

Don Everly

Don Everly was the last surviving member of the Everly Brothers. He died on August 21, 2021, and the cause of his death has not been confirmed yet. He was 84.

Christopher Plummer

Renowned Canadian actor and Broadway star Christopher Plummer died on February 5, 2021. He was 91. As per reports, he had complications from a fall. The male lead of the Sound of Music is a world-renowned star.

Phil Spector

Phil Spector died on January 16, 2021, due to Covid-19 complications. He was 81. The American musician and record producer was sentenced to jail for the murder of a woman at his residence. 

Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles fame Anne Rice passed away on December 11, 2021. She was 80. Her novel, Interview With A Vampire, became a popular film that featured Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. 

Bob Dole

The Republican Party’s 1996 presidential nominee and a five-term US senator, Bob Dole died on December 5, 2021. He was 98.

FW de Klerk

FW de Klerk, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, served South Africa as state president. He passed away on November 11, 2021, due to mesothelioma. He was 85. South Africa’s long walk back from the mindlessness of Apartheid was under his regime but under threat of severe economic sanctions.

Colin Powell

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former US Secretary of State, Colin Powell died due to Covid-19 complications on October 18, 2021. He was 84.

Willie Garson

American actor Willie Garson, who played the role of Stanford Blatch on the popular TV series Sex and the City, died on September 21, 2021. He was 57. As per reports, the actor was suffering from pancreatic cancer. 

Michael K Williams

Michael K. Williams, known for his character Omar Little in The Wire, passed away on September 25, 2021. He was 54 and died due to an accidental drug overdose.

Donald Rumsfeld

US Defense Secretary during Iraq War, Donald H. Rumsfeld died on June 29, 2021. He was 88. After losing political support, he resigned in late 2006 and published an autobiography, Known and Unknown and Rumsfeld’s Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life.

Prince Philip

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip was the longest-serving royal consort in British history. He died at the age of 99 on April 9, 2021. 

Paul Mooney

Paul Mooney, the Bamboozled star, passed away on May 19, 2021. The actor-comedian suffered a massive heart attack at his residence in Oakland. He was 79.

Sabah Fakhri

Sabah Fakhri was the flagbearer of traditional Arabic music Muwashahat and Qudud Halabiya. He died a natural death on November 2, 2021. He was 88.

Chick Corea

Chick Corea, the American jazz composer, passed away on February 9, 2021, due to a rare form of cancer. He was 79. His notable compositions include La Fiesta, Spain, 500 Miles High, and others.

Larry Flynt

American publisher Larry Flynt passed away on February 10, 2021. He was 78 and had a net worth of $500 million when he died.

Richard Donner

American filmmaker Richard Donner died on July 5, 2021, due to cardiopulmonary failure with atherosclerosis. 

BJ Thomas

Veteran American singer BJ Thomas died on May 29, 2021. The five-time Grammy winner succumbed to complications due to lung cancer. He was 78.

Michael Collins

Michael Collins was the astronaut who flew the Apollo 11 command module Columbia around the Moon in 1969. He was the one who didn’t exit the module, his other famous co-passengers were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. He died on April 28, 2021, following a long battle against cancer.

Jim Steinman

Noted American composer Jim Steinman died on April 19, 2021, due to kidney failure. He was 73. He shot to fame with his albums like Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, Total Eclipse of the Heart to name a few.

Walter Mondale

Former Vice President of the United States Walter Mondale passed away on April 19, 2021. He died a natural death.

Rush Limbaugh

Renowned American radio personality Rush Hudson Limbaugh died on February 17, 2021. He succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 70.

DMX 

Earl Simmons aka DMX was an accomplished American rapper and actor. He passed away on April 9, 2021, due to a cocaine-induced heart attack that led to a lack of circulation to his brain, as per reports. He was 50.

Stephen Sondheim

Best-known for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim died on November 26, 2021. He succumbed to cardiovascular disease at the age of 91.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who became popular as South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon, passed away on December 26, 2021. Reportedly, he was battling prostate cancer since the early 1990s and was hospitalised in recent years. He was 90. In 1984, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for combatting white minority rule in South Africa.