Saeed Jaffrey, former Coronation street actor and Bollywood veteran, sadly passed away from a brain hemorrhage aged 86 on Sunday. The actor collapsed at his London home and was unable to regain consciousness, according to a statement from Jaffrey Associates.
News of his death was announced by his niece Shaheen Aggarwal on Facebook when she posted a long tribute to her 'beautiful' uncle.
Today, a generation of Jaffreys has passed away. Saeed Jaffrey has joined his brothers and sister and is rejoicing in...
Posted by Shaheen Aggarwal on Sunday, November 15, 2015
The tribute read: "Today, a generation of Jaffreys has passed away. Saeed Jaffrey has joined his brothers and sister and is rejoicing in the lap of his Heavenly Father, eternally." Shaheen inclued an excerpt from an interview with her uncle, finishing with: "The entire Jaffrey Family bids you, "adieu", you beautiful, beautiful man. See you in heaven!"
Many of his fellow Bollywood actors paid their respects to the late star with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, leading the tributes.
Born in India in 1929, Saeed started his acting career in theatre. He was the first Indian to tour Shakespeare across the United States and to star in a major Broadway role, according to Jaffrey Associates. He became a household name in the UK after appearing in numerous TV dramas including Tandoori Nights, The Far Pavilions and Gangsters.
Most famously, he played Ravi Desai in Coronation Street, while his big screen performances included working alongside Michael Caine and Sean Connery in 1975's The Man Who Would Be King and playing Patel in Sir Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winning Gandhi in 1982. Talented and respected, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1995 for his contributions to drama.
© Photo: RexSaeed and his wife Jennifer at Theatre Royal in 2005
The actor was married to actress and author Madhur Jaffrey and the couple had three children together before divorcing in 1966. Saeed remarried Jennifer Jaffrey in 1980 before she became his agent.
The funeral should take place in London in the next two weeks.
