Kiran Phalke, the grandson of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, passed away on Saturday morning due to a severe heart attack. He was 78 years old and is survived by his wife, two daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. His last rites were performed at the Shiv Mandir crematorium.
Chandrashekhar Pusalkar, Dadasaheb Phalke’s grandnephew, confirmed the news of Kiran Phalke’s passing to Etimes. “Dr. Kiran Phalke was 78 years old and very talented. He played the guitar and keyboard and was an expert acupuncturist. He conducted extensive research in his field and had recently been appointed as a professor, which made him very happy,” Pusalkar said.
Kiran Phalke was deeply passionate about his work and his family. “Last week, when I called him, I could barely hear him. He mentioned that he was thrilled to have received a professorship offer because of his expertise,” said Pusalkar. “He was a doctor and treated many patients, but never pursued acting or anything related. He was very talented and had a beautiful voice, much like Hemant Kumar, and was skilled in playing multiple instruments like the guitar and keyboard.”
Having lived in Dombivli for the past 60 years, Kiran Phalke witnessed the city’s many transformations. He was also known for his expertise in acupuncture and had been providing free treatment to the needy for over 35 years. Recently, he was appointed as a guide at a college in Bhiwandi, where he mentored students in the field.
Apart from his professional work, music was a significant passion in Kiran Phalke’s life. He enjoyed entertaining people by playing the guitar and singing. He was proficient in various musical instruments, including the keyboard, South Urban guitar, and Hawaiian guitar. In recent years, he produced two music albums through digital audio recording. Kiran also traveled extensively across India, from Dombivli to Kanyakumari and even reached the border of Pakistan on his motorcycle.
