PM Modi expresses grief over Kader Khan's demise

In his message, the PM said: "Kader Khan Ji brightened the screen with his stupendous acting skills and lightened it thanks to his unique sense of humour.

He was also a prolific screenwriter, associated with many memorable films.

Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers."

Kader Khan, whose impeccable comic timing even when he was playing a villain had ruled the popular Hindi film industry over the 1980s and 90s, dies after a prolonged illness in Canada on Tuesday morning. He was 81.

The news of his death was conveyed by his son.

The actor, who entertained cine-goers of popular Indian cinema with his roles as either a comedian or a villain, was suffering from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a degenerative disease that causes loss of balance, difficulty in walking and dementia.

Recently he had been complaining of breathlessness and was being treated for pneumonia too.

The doctors had moved him from a regular ventilator to BiPAP ventilator.

Kader Khan, who was Afghan-born, had acted in over 300 films after his debut film in the 1973 film Daag.

While he played both villain and comedian and often the father of popular Bollywood heroes and heroines, his many roles were as comic villain.

His comic timing was also highly acclaimed and often with actors like Govinda or Shakti Kapoor or Paresh Rawal he would have the popular audience of Hindi films in splits.

He was also a prolific screenwriter for Bollywood films in the 1970s and 1980s.