Padma Shri awardee and veteran film, television and theatre actor, director and writer Tom Alter passed away on late Friday night after battling with stage four skin cancer. He was 67.

He was famously known for playing the gangster Keshav Kalsi in the hit soap opera 'Junoon', which ran for a record five years during the 1990s.

A native of Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, Alter was bestowed with Padma Shri for his service to the field of arts and cinema.

Apart from acting in over 300 movies apart from numerous TV shows, Alter was the first person to interview Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar for TV when the cricketer was yet to debut for India.

His sudden death has come as a huge shock to the Indian film fraternity.

Many Bollywood celebrities took to social media and expressed their grief.

RIP Tom Alter...have the fondest childhood memories of seeing him on zabaan sambhal ke... https://t.co/Cvb1zq2OuP

— Arjun Kapoor (@arjunk26) September 30, 2017

I had the privilege of working with him in Bangistan. Will always remember him for his humility and kindness. #RIP #TomAlter https://t.co/xa9FLWcq7h

— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) September 30, 2017

Waking up to some tragic news about the passing away of Mr. Tom Alter. A one of a kind, grace personified, thorough gentleman. #RIPTomAlter

— Nimrat Kaur (@NimratOfficial) September 30, 2017

So sad to hear about Tom Alter sir.. had the honour of knowing him while doing a play in Delhi .. such a lovely human being. Rest in Peace.

— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) September 30, 2017

May you rest in peace tom sir!!condolences to his near and dear ones. https://t.co/IKAT3KiM08

— Manoj Bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) September 30, 2017

I had the honor of working with #TomAlter twice. He was the perfect example of a humble talented artist with a gigantic legacy.

— Vir Das (@thevirdas) September 30, 2017

Alter's first release was Ramanand Sagar's Charas in 1976. Among his notable roles are Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Shyam Benega's Junoon, Manoj Kumar's magnum opus Kranti, Raj Kapoor's Ram Teri Ganga Maili, and Mahesh Bhatt's Aashiqui.

He also acted in several foreign films - Richard Attenborough's Gandhi and One Night with the King.