Sunil Malhotra was a former Merchant Navy captain known for his discipline, integrity and calm strength, which deeply influenced his son Sidharth Malhotra’s values. He battled prolonged illness and a stroke with quiet courage
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The mood around Sidharth Malhotra and his world has suddenly turned quiet. The actor, who usually keeps his emotions tucked behind a calm smile, is now dealing with a deeply personal loss, the passing of his father, Sunil Malhotra. The veteran Merchant Navy captain died in Delhi four days ago after battling health issues for some time.
Alongside him through this heartbreaking moment is his wife, Kiara Advani, who immediately travelled with him to the capital. The couple attended last rites and stayed close to the family as they navigated the grief.
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Sunil Malhotra was a man known for discipline and strong moral values. As former Merchant Navy captain, he lived a life of structure and integrity.
In his emotional tribute, Sidharth described his father as a man of “rare honesty, integrity and culture.” He spoke about how his father’s discipline never came with harshness, and his strength never carried ego.
Even during tough phases of life, Sunil Malhotra stayed positive and graceful never compromising on the values he believed in.
The actor revealed that his father had been unwell for quite some time. At one stage, a stroke had confined him to a wheelchair, yet his spirit remained strong and upright. According to Sidharth, his father faced illness with quiet courage never letting pain take away his dignity.
He also shared that his father passed away peacefully in his sleep. But the emotional void, he admitted, feels immeasurable for the entire family.
In his note, Sidharth wrote that his father’s integrity is now his inheritance and his strength continues to guide him every day. He added that the positivity his father carried still holds the family together even after his passing.
This loss is not sudden for Malhotra family. Back in 2025, Sidharth had spoken about his father’s fragile health during candid conversation with Lilly Singh.
He admitted that watching his father suffer sometimes made him anxious and impatient. In those moments, he would unintentionally become harsh with his mother Rimma Malhotra who was single-handedly managing medicines and daily caregiving responsibilities.
He recalled a quiet morning in Delhi when he and his mother were having tea and coffee together. Out of nowhere, she began talking about the struggles she had handled over the past 20 years; times when Sidharth was away building his career and she had to hold the family together alone. That conversation, he said, made him realise the emotional weight she had carried silently for years.
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