Gujarati cinema personalities Mahesh, Naresh Kanodia die in span of two days

Renowned Gujarati cinema personalities Mahesh and Naresh Kanodia, who are brothers, have died in a span of two days. 

The elder sibling Mahesh, a singer, musician and performer, died on 25 October at the age of 83 after a prolonged battle with paralysis. He was also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of parliament. 

“The ace singer, who enthralled the audience through his performances, together with his younger brother and Gujarati film superstar Naresh Kanodia, died due to prolonged illness. He had been suffering from paralysis for the past six years. He breathed his last at his residence in Gandhinagar today morning,” said his nephew Hitu Kanodia, an actor and BJP member of legislative assembly, to the Ahmedabad Mirror newspaper. 

Naresh had recently tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, rumours of his demise were doing the rounds on social media. which his son Hitu rubbished, saying his father's health was improving. However, he breathed his last on Tuesday at a hospital in Ahmedabad. He was 77. 

One of Gujarati cinema's biggest stars, Naresh acted in more than 100 films. He made his debut with the film Jigar Ane Ami (1970). He was last seen in the movie Janu Mari Lakhoma Ek (2017). 

The two brothers also used to run a musical ensemble named Mahesh-Naresh and Party.