For millions of devotees and television viewers in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Ramanand Sagar’s Sai Baba wasn’t just a show—it was a spiritual experience. Airing initially on StarPlus, the series brought the life and teachings of Shirdi’s saint to living rooms across the world.

Rumors about Dalvi’s death began circulating around 2018. These were fake. Sudhir Dalvi was alive and well, giving interviews as recently as 2023 about his experience playing Sai Baba. He has repeatedly clarified that he is an actor, not a saint, and that he approached the role with immense discipline—including wearing the robe for 16 hours a day and learning to keep his eyes half-shut in meditation.

is often associated with the role due to his famous portrayal in the 1977 film Shirdi Ke Sai Baba and his work in other Sagar productions like Ramayan , is the verified lead for this specific 2005 TV series. Verified Main Cast

: Played the priest of the Khandoba temple and Sai Baba's first devotee in Shirdi. Kumar Hegde as Kulkarni

For millions of devotees across India and the world, the image of Shirdi Sai Baba is not just a spiritual symbol but a living presence. And for an entire generation, that presence was most vividly captured not in temples, but on the small screen. The television series "Sai Baba" – produced by the legendary Ramanand Sagar (of Ramayan fame) – remains a gold standard in devotional storytelling. Aired initially on Star Plus in the early 2000s, the show continues to evoke deep reverence. However, a thick cloud of misinformation, fake news, and social media gossip has long surrounded the actors who portrayed the saint. Who was the real actor behind the saffron robe? Is the rumor about his death true? Which cast members are still alive today?