Actor Jagdeep, best known for his portrayal of Soorma Bhopali in Sholay, passed away on Wednesday at his home. He was 81.

The actor, whose real name was Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri, had not been keeping well. “He passed away at 8.30pm at his residence in Bandra. He had not been keeping well due to age-related issues,” producer Mehmood Ali, a close family friend, said.

Jagdeep appeared in around 400 films. He also played memorable roles in Purana Mandir and Andaz Apna Apna, where he was Salman Khan’s father.

Better known by his stage name Jagdeep, the actor also directed the film Soorma Bhopali with his character as the protagonist. He is survived by two sons — actor Jaaved Jaaferi and director Naved Jaffrey.