(Image source from: Veteran actor Farooq Sheikh dies at 65})

One of finest actors on Indian celluloid, veteran star Farooq Sheikh passed away of a massive cardiac arrest on Friday night in Dubai. The actor was 65.

Adulated for his films like 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi', 'Chashme Buddoor', 'Bazaar', 'Katha', 'Rang Birangi', 'Umrao Jaan', 'Lahore' and more, this National Award winning actor was holidaying with his wife and two daughters in Dubai when the tragedy hit the family last night.

Mr. Sheikh was rushed to the hospital immediately, but the doctors failed to revive him and he passed away 45 minutes later, sources say.

His body will be brought to Mumbai today for final rites.

Meanwhile, the entire film fraternity is trying to get grips of this shocking news.

"He was one of the finest actors we had," an emotional Deepti Naval, who worked with Farooq Sheikh in some of his most successful films, expressed.

Writer and activist Javed Akhtar remembered him as an avid reader "who used to recommend books every time we met."

"#RIPFarooqShaikh The last time we met, we talked politics. I wish we has talked film and acting. Its what we love most. I would have learned," filmmaker Shekhar Kapur tweeted.

"RIP Farooq Sheikh. Immensely talented, extremely courteous. A thorough gentleman," actress-turned-politician Smriti Irani posted on Twitter.

AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury