Veteran theatre artist and actor Bishnu Bhakta Phuyal passed away on Tuesday, while he was performing in a play at Rastriya Naach Ghar, in the Capital.

Phuyal, who was portraying the role of King Janak in Satya Mohan Joshi’s play Yagyabalkya, fell unconscious on the stage and was taken to Bir Hospital immediately where he was pronounced dead.

Seventy-nine years old Phuyal, who rose to fame after playing a role of fisherman in Ramesh Bikal’s TV series Abiral Bagdachha Indrawati, had received National Award for his contribution in theatre this year. Over his long-spanning career, Phuyal performed in more than six dozen plays, TV series and movies. 

Phuyal’s body was kept at Nepal Art Academy on Wednesday till 2pm where hundreds of the actor’s fans thronged in to pay final respect to the beloved actor.