Noted theatre activist Dinesh Thakur dead

Actor in theatre, television and films, Thakur was also the founder-director of Ank Productions

Noted theatre actor-director Dinesh Thakur, who has acted in television and films, passed away this morning. Thakur was suffering from kidney ailments and died at a suburban Andheri hospital.

Closely associated with the New Wave in Indian cinema, Thakur's most notable role in films was as one of the leads in the Basu Chatterjee film Rajnigandha, which was commercially and critically successful. He was also well known for writing the story and screenplay of Ghar which was lauded.

A graduate of Kirori Mal College in New Delhi, Thakur had been associated with all aspects of theatre right from his  days in the University. He has worked with the likes of Gulzar, Amol Palekar, Basu Bhattacharya and many other stalwarts of the Indian film industry in a career spanning over 40 years.

Thakur established the "Ank Theatre Group" in 1976 which produced plays in Hindi in Mumbai and collaborated with Prithvi Theatre in 1978 to achieve great fame.

Thakur's last marked appearance was in Balaji Telefilms' popular television soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.