MUMBAI: Joy Mukherjee, who had mouthed lilting songs like ‘Bade miyan deewane aise na bano‘ and ‘Sawere ka suraj tumhare liye hai‘ breathed his last this afternoon at the Lilavati Hospital.

The 73-year old star, Mukherjee, was put on a ventilator a few days ago after he was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. He had not been keeping well for some time.

Mukherjee made his acting debut in 1960 with Love In Simla. Post that he became popular with films like Shagird, Love in Tokyo, Bahu Beti, Ziddi, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Ek Musafir Ek Hasina, Puraskar, Ishaara and Hum Hindustani.

He also directed movies like Love in Bombay (1974), Chhaila Babu (1977), Saanjh Ki Bela (1981) and Umeed (1989).

Mukherjee hailed from a film family; his father Sashadhar Mukherjee, who had married legendary actor Ashok Kumar‘s sister Sati Devi, was the co-founder of Filmalaya Studios. His brothers are Deb and Shomu Mukherjee, father of Kajol and Tanisha Mukherjee.

Mukherjee leaves behind wife Neelam and three children.