A month after veteran singer Arun Date’s son was found living on the streets in Pune, the 48-year-old passed away in Sion, shunned by all except his childhood friends
Although Sangeet’s final rites were carried out by his elder brother, Atul (right), the family did not accept him in his final days or take his body home
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Disowned by his family and reduced to living on the streets, Sangeet Date, the son of famed Marathi singer Arun Date, did not find acceptance from his kin even in his final moments. A month after he was discovered sleeping under a bridge in Pune, the 48-year-old breathed his last in Sion hospital, all alone except for a few loyal friends from his childhood.
In his final days, Sangeet had only his childhood friends — Joy Bhosle, Lalit Mishra, Mahesh Chavan and Sanchit Madge. Pics/Shadab Khan
A little over a month ago, mid-day had highlighted how the singer’s son had fallen upon hard times after his father disowned him for his dishonest and reckless lifestyle. Living rough had taken its toll on Sangeet, and he was found in a very weak condition. While his family wanted nothing to do with him, his friends came to his rescue and admitted him in hospital. One such friend is Joy Bhosle, a TV producer, who said, “Initially, Sangeet was admitted in Deenanth Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune. In the first week of September, he came to Mumbai and was staying in a hotel in Panvel. He asked me for money to pay his hotel bills. The next week, I came to know that he was found on the streets in Sion, and the police admitted him in hospital. He ran away from there too, but returned two days later.”
Also Read: Marathi singer Arun Date claims son Sangeet never contributed to the family, but cheated all of them
Family detached
“On Tuesday morning, we received a call from the police, saying he was no more. We called Sangeet’s former wife and his brother Atul to be present for the funeral. We texted Atul and called him repeatedly, but he remained unavailable. But we are satisfied that at the final moment, he came and did his duty,” added Joy.
Lalit Mishra, another friend of Sangeet’s, said, “Atul turned up around noon and started the process. He gave the ID proof for Sangeet and after the post-mortem, the body was cremated in an electric furnace. We would have liked to take Sangeet’s body to his home in Bandra, but his family did not allow it. Sangeet lived his life like a king, but in his final days, it was very different. This was expected from Date’s family. I know he has given them pain, but he should not have been left like that after his death.”
Read Story: Pune: Top Marathi singer Arun Date loses memory, son left homeless
Brother says
Atul Date told mid-day, “We are in deep grief. Although he has troubled my father and maligned the family’s name, it was still my duty to carry out his final rites. I did not respond to the calls of his friends as I was busy then, but I have fulfilled my duty as a brother.”
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