Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Veteran classical dance historian Sunil Kothari passes away due to a cardiac arrest at a Delhi Hospital. He was tested positive for COVID-19 a month back.
The classical dancer was born on 20th December 1933 and was a qualified Chartered Accountant but later focused on dancing studies where he studied Indian dance forms and has written more than 20 books. In 1995 he was awarded in the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award following Gaurav Puskar by the Gujurat Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000 and a Padma Shri in 2001. He was also felicitated as the Life Time Achievement Award of Dance Critics Association, New York in 2011.
Bollywood Actress Heman Malini mourned his death and tweeted – Sunil Kothari, an eminent dance critic, has passed away. He was one of those who encouraged me in the initial stage of my career. He was a passionate lover of art, an spl person who took great interest in classical dance and encouraged young dancers. Will truly miss you Sunilji.”
She even mentioned that the veteran dancer encourages her to keep her connect with dance alive in the early stages of her career.
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