Deepak Dave, Executive Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan USA, dies in New York City

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Indian American actor, voiceover-dubbing artist and Executive Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan USA, Deepak Dave, died of a heart attack at his office, in New York City, late evening of June 29, 2020.

Dave, who lived in New Jersey, acted in 15 TV serials and 9 films. He performed in over 70 plays, according to a report in Dainik Bhaskar.

Apart from Gujarati, Dave also acted in plays in English, Hindi and Marathi languages. He was also a noted voiceover and dubbing artist. Dave shot to fame with his 1998 Gujarati film ‘Nano Diyariyo Ladko’. His play ‘Chingari’ was also well-received.

Dave joined Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, in 2003 as Program Director. Later, he started working as a program manager at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA, in 2005. He was the Executive Director since 2008.

Bollywood actor Anupam Kher took to Twitter to share the news of Dave’s death.

Kher tweeted on Tuesday: “Deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden death of a friend and theatre thespian in New York #DeepakDave. He also was running #BhartiyaVidyaBhavan there. He was cultured, humble and extremely helpful. Can’t believe he is no more. My deep condolences to his family. Om Shanti.”

India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, also condoled Dave’s death. He tweeted, “Very sad to learn about the demise of Deepak Dave, Executive Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, USA. A well-known actor and pillar of Indian cultural life in New York, he will be missed by everyone. May his soul Rest In Peace!”

Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Founder and Chairman, Parikh Worldwide Media, and Chairman, ITV Gold, condoled Dave’s death.

“Deepak Dave ji was a really talented and creative person who was managing Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in the US for over a decade. He was also very good poet, and a good writer. We will really miss him. Our prayers are with his family. God bless them,” said Dr. Parikh.

Padma Shri H R Shah, Chairman Emeritus, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan USA and Chairman and CEO, TV Asia, condoled Dave’s death, in a statement.

“It is extremely sad that we have lost Deepakbhai, a great friend, actor, and a pillar of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan USA. I got involved with Bhavan USA as a volunteer to the committee members, director and chairman. I helped build Bhavan’s auditorium, which is named after my daughter Romanti, as Romanti Auditorium,” said Shah.

Shah added: “During my chairmanship at Bhavan USA, I worked closely with Deepakji for over a decade. Deepakji was the executive director at Bhavan USA and dedicated a lot of time promoting Bhavan and its Indian activities. At Bhavan USA, Deepakbhai was instrumental in introducing new artists from different fields such as dance, music, culture, education and literature while giving them the Bhavan USA platform. He was also running different classes in Hindi and Sanskrit. He enhanced new programming at Bhavan USA to include dance classes, always ensuring promotion of Indian arts and culture. Deepakji was living and breathing Bhavan at all times. He was a devotee of Bhavan and like Arjun his eyes were always only focused on Bhavan and its activities. He was a true Bhavan follower and maintained the Bhavan traditions. In the end, he passed away on Bhavan USA premises.

“Before getting involved with Bhavan in India, Deepakji was a popular Gujarati TV and drama actor and the son of great poet of Gujarat, Harindra Dave. He worked at Bhavan Mumbai before coming to the USA in 2005.

“In recent times, we had been working together on productions of Indian music and culture for the community via the medium of TV. We love him and we will surely miss him.  TV Asia offers its deepest condolences and prays for the departed soul. May god give his family strength to bear his irreparable loss. God bless his soul!”

“Om Shanti Om,” Shah said.

As of going to press, details of Dave’s surviving family members and his funeral service was yet to be ascertained.