Veteran Bollywood actor-director-writer-comedian and a Quranic scholar, Kader Khan died after a prolonged illness at a hospital in Toronto in Canada, a family member said here on Tuesday.

Kader, 81, is survived by his wife Hajra, son Sarfaraz, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

According to Ahmed Khan, a close relative, he passed away around 4am. (IST). He added that the last rites will be held in a Toronto cemetery later in the day.

Reported to be critical and on a ventilator, rumours of Kader's demise had been doing the rounds on social networks and some media outlets (not IANS), since the past five days, which left the family and other relatives traumatised.

He spent nearly four months in hospital, for various old-age related ailments including breathing issues and finally succumbed on December 31 evening (Toronto time).

Born on October 22, 1937 in Kabul, Afghanistan, to a Pashtun family, Kader Khan was educated in a municipal school and later graduated from Mumbai's Ismail Yusuf College, Jogeshwari, a government-run institution.

An avid reader and a film-buff, he had a huge collection of books on various subjects related to film-making, acting, screenplay writing, penning story-dialogues and other departments, and had a mastery over Urdu.

Starting with his first film as an actor in "Daag", (1973), over the next 35 years he went on to act in over 300 films in memorable roles, and also wrote the story or dialogues for more than 250 films in Hindi and Urdu, starting with "Roti" (1974).

Some of his most memorable films as a comedian-character actor are: "Daag", "Adalat", "Bairaag", "Parvarish", "Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, "Shalimar", "Mr. Natwarlal", "Suhaag", "Dhan Daulat", "Qurbani", "Jwalamukhi", "Abdullah", "Naseeb", "Ahista Ahista", "Yaarana", "Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai", "Satte Pe Satta", "Raaz", "Desh Premee", "Sanam Teri Kasam", "Mehndi Rang Layegi", "Himmatwala", "Coolie", "Ghar Ek Mandir", "John Jaani Janardhan", "Tawaif", "Loha", "Jawab Hum Denge", "Shahenshah", "Pyar Ka Mandir", "Khoon Bhari Maang", "Vardi", "Baap Numbri, Beta Dus Numbri", "Pyar Ka Devta", "Saajan", "Bol Radha Bol", "Meherbaan", "Aankhen", "Eena Meena Deeka", "Coolie No.1", "Saajan Chale Sasural", "Judaai", "Dulhe Raja," "Aunty No.1" and "Sooryavansham".

He penned the story-dialogues for top-grossing films like: "Jawani Diwani", "Benaam", "Roti", "Amar Akbar Anthony", "Parvarish", "Muqaddar Ka Sikandar", "Suhaag", "Mr. Natwarlal, "Yaarana", "Lawaaris", "Desh Premee", "Khuddar", "Coolie", "Sharaabi", "Ganga Jamna Saraswati", "Singhasan", "Khoon Bhari Maang" and "Aunty No. 1". He also produced a film, "Shama" in 1981.