Jackie Shroff pays tribute to Khayyam, Utpal Dutt on death anniversaries
Synopsis
On 19 August, Jackie Shroff paid tribute to two legends who share the same death date: composer Khayyam, gone 7 years, whose 'Umrao Jaan' soundtrack remains unmatched, and Utpal Dutt, gone 33 years, who bridged radical Bengali theatre and mainstream Hindi comedy in a career spanning 100-plus films.
Key Takeaways
Jackie Shroff paid tribute to composer Khayyam on his 7th death anniversary on 19 August .
Shroff also remembered actor-playwright Utpal Dutt on his 33rd death anniversary , also falling on 19 August .
Khayyam , born 18 February 1927 , composed music for landmark films including 'Umrao Jaan' and 'Kabhi Kabhie' ; he died aged 92 in 2019 .
Utpal Dutt , born 29 March 1929 , appeared in more than 100 films across Bengali and Hindi cinema and was a celebrated theatre activist; he died in 1993 .
Shroff shared a monochrome photo of Khayyam with the song 'Kabhi Kisi Ko Muqammal Jahan' as the backdrop.
Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff paid heartfelt tributes to two towering figures of Indian arts on 19 August — legendary music composer Khayyam, on his 7th death anniversary, and celebrated actor-playwright Utpal Dutt, on his 33rd death anniversary. Both stalwarts passed away on the same date, years apart, making 19 August a day of dual remembrance in Indian cultural memory.
Jackie Shroff's Tribute to Khayyam
Shroff shared a monochrome photograph of Khayyam on social media, accompanied by a note reading, 'Remembering Khayyam ji on his death anniversary.' The post featured the timeless song 'Kabhi Kisi Ko Muqammal Jahan' — sung by Bhupinder Singh and composed by Khayyam — as the background track, from the 1981 film 'Aahista Aahista'.
A Career That Defined an Era of Hindi Film Music
Born Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi on 18 February 1927 in Rahon, Punjab, Khayyam entered the music industry in the 1940s, initially composing under the name 'Sharmaji' as one half of the duo Sharmaji-Varmaji. He later emerged as a formidable solo composer, lending his craft to films including 'Phir Subah Hogi', 'Kabhi Kabhie', 'Noorie', 'Trishul', 'Razia Sultan', and 'Umrao Jaan'.
His work on 'Umrao Jaan' (1981) is widely regarded as the pinnacle of his career, producing classics such as 'Dil Cheez Kya Hai', 'In Aankhon Ki Masti', and 'Yeh Kya Jagah Hai Doston'. The soundtrack of 'Kabhi Kabhie' similarly gifted Hindi cinema the enduring title track 'Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein'. Khayyam married playback singer Jagjit Kaur in 1954; the couple had a son, Pradeep. He passed away in Mumbai on 19 August 2019 following a cardiac arrest, aged 92.
Remembering Utpal Dutt: Stage, Screen, and Activism
Shroff also shared a photograph of Utpal Dutt, marking 33 years since the actor's passing. Born on 29 March 1929 in Barisal, Bengal Presidency (present-day Bangladesh), Dutt was a defining force in Indian theatre — an actor, director, playwright, and activist whose career stretched across more than four decades.
His entry into cinema came after filmmaker Madhu Bose saw his acclaimed stage portrayal of Othello and cast him in 'Michael Madhusudan' in 1950. Dutt went on to appear in more than 100 films across Bengali and Hindi cinema, including 'Bhuvan Shome', 'Guddi', 'Gol Maal', 'Rang Birangi', 'Hirak Rajar Deshe', 'Agantuk', and 'Padma Nadir Majhi'. His comic turns — particularly in 'Gol Maal' — made him a beloved presence for Hindi film audiences, even as his Bengali theatre work retained a sharply political edge.
Dutt was married to actress Shobha Sen; the couple had a daughter, Bishnupriya Dutt. He passed away on 19 August 1993 in Kolkata following a heart attack. Both anniversaries, falling on the same date, continue to draw remembrances from across the Indian film and arts community.
Point of View
Dutt's is theatrical and combative — yet both are remembered today largely through a handful of canonical works. Jackie Shroff's social media tributes are a reminder that institutional memory in Bollywood is thin, and that the burden of keeping these legacies alive has quietly shifted to individual actors rather than studios, archives, or the state.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 19 August significant in Indian cinema?
19 August marks the death anniversaries of both legendary music composer Khayyam, who passed away in 2019, and celebrated actor-playwright Utpal Dutt, who died in 1993. The coincidence makes it a day of dual remembrance in Indian arts.
Who is Khayyam and what is his contribution to Hindi film music?
Khayyam, born Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi on 18 February 1927, was a Hindi film music composer whose career spanned more than four decades. He is best known for the soundtracks of 'Umrao Jaan' and 'Kabhi Kabhie', which produced some of the most enduring songs in Indian cinema.
What did Jackie Shroff post to remember Khayyam?
Shroff shared a monochrome photograph of Khayyam on social media with the note 'Remembering Khayyam ji on his death anniversary', using the song 'Kabhi Kisi Ko Muqammal Jahan' from the 1981 film 'Aahista Aahista' as the background track.
When and how did Utpal Dutt and Khayyam pass away?
Khayyam died on 19 August 2019 in Mumbai following a cardiac arrest, aged 92. Utpal Dutt died on 19 August 1993 in Kolkata following a heart attack, aged 64.
