A tragic and heartbreaking incident occurred on the Ramlila stage in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh. 73-year-old veteran artist Amresh Mahajan, also known as Shibu, who had brought characters like Ravana and Dasharatha to life for the past four decades, passed away while performing. The cause of his death is reported to be a heart attack.
Death on stage while performing
The incident occurred around 8:30 pm on Tuesday night, during a scene from Dasharatha’s court at the historic Chaugan Maidan. Amresh Mahajan was playing the role of King Dasharatha this year. The audience was mesmerized by his powerful performance. Suddenly, he collapsed on stage and fell unconscious. Fellow actors immediately picked him up and rushed him to the hospital, but unfortunately, doctors were unable to save him and he was declared dead.
The last Ramlila proved to be true.
The entire Chaugan Maidan in Chamba was stunned by the death of Amresh Mahajan. This was his final performance, as he had previously announced that it would be his last Ramlila. Ramlila Club President Swapan Mahajan said that Amresh’s passing is a huge loss for the entire city, as he had been an integral part of the tradition for the past four decades. Ramlila has been staged in Chamba since 1949, and artists like Amresh kept the legacy alive.