Shirdi Ke Sai Baba actor Sudhir Dalvi critical in hospital; Riddhima Kapoor extends financial help, shuts down troll who claimed ‘footage chahiye’ | Bollywood News
Sudhir Dalvi, 86-year-old actor best known for portraying the iconic titular role in Manoj Kumar’s 1977 film Shirdi Ke Sai Baba, has been hospitalized for severe sepsis. Admitted in Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai since October 8, 2025, Dalvi is critically ill. His family has asked the film industry and well-wishers for financial aid to support his treatment.
After his breakthrough playing the spiritual guru, Dalvi appeared in a number of films like Subhash Ghai’s 1993 gangster drama Khal Nayak and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 1996 romantic comedy English Babu Desi Mem. His last big screen appearance was in N Chandra’s 2003 comedy thriller XCuse Me.
He gained more popularity on the small screen, essaying key characters in popular TV shows like Ramesh Sippy’s Buniyaad, as Vashishtha in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, as Shah Jahan in Shyam Benegal’s Bharat Ek Khoj, as Bahadur Shah Zafar in Gulzar’s Mirza Ghalib, in Chandraprakash Dwivedi’s Chanakya, and in Parikshit Sahni’s show Junoon. His last acting role was as Govardhan Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi during its initial run which ended in 2008.
Story continues below this ad
As per reports, Rs 10 lakh has already been spent on Dalvi’s medical expenses, but the doctors claim the cost of treatment may require another Rs 15 lakh. After spotting one of the social media posts requesting for donations, Riddhima Kapoor did her bit. She commented on the post, “Done (folded hands emoji),” hinting that she’s sent her monetary contributions for Dalvi’s treatment.
However, a troll questioned Riddhima’s intention and replied to her comment, “Why did you mention here if you have helped… footage chahiye? (Need footage?),” wrote the troll. Riddhima couldn’t help but shut them down responding in the comment section, “Everything in life is not about optics — helping someone in need and in whatever capacity you can is the biggest blessing,” she wrote.
Riddhima is no stranger to hospitals and grave illnesses. Her father and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor died of leukaemia, a form of blood cancer, back in 2020. Interestingly, Rishi worked with Dalvi in a number of films, including Surendra Mohan’s 1980 romantic movie Aap Ke Deewane and 1987 action film Hawalaat, and SA Chandrasekhar’s Azaad Desh Ke Ghulam in 1990.
Recently, Riddhima revealed how when she broke down in public during the shoot of her upcoming debut film, it was the first time she did so after her father’s demise. That was also the first time after her father’s death that she left her daughter Samaira Kapoor at home. Rishi Kapoor sought treatment for a year in New York from 2018-19.Story continues below this ad
Last year, Riddhima revealed how her father’s last two wishes have almost been granted now. Rishi Kapoor wished that his son Ranbir Kapoor get married. While he was dating fellow actor Alia Bhatt before Rishi’s death, they tied the knot only two years later in 2022. The second wish was to get his ancestral Bandra bungalow ready after renovation. It’s now on the verge of completion as Ranbir and Alia are expected to move in soon, along with their two-year-old daughter Raha Kapoor.
Also Read — Inside Riddhima Kapoor’s lavish Delhi home that looks like a 7-star hotel: ‘I have a room in Ranbir-Alia’s new Mumbai home, mom Neetu has a floor’
Meanwhile, Riddhima will be seen making her Bollywood debut soon in a comedy opposite Kapil Sharma. The film also stars her mother Neetu Kapoor, and it’s been shot majorly in the hills. Prior to that, Riddhima made her screen debut with the Netflix India reality series Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives last year.
