The couple shared a heartbreaking tribute to their building’s security guard, revealing how he had been among the first people to bless their newborn twin sons.
Television actors Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya have been left devastated by a tragedy that has turned their Diwali celebrations into a painful memory. The couple, who managed to escape a major fire at their residential building in Mumbai along with their twin sons and family members, are mourning the death of a man they considered much more than a security guard. Affectionately known as ‘Dhanpat Uncle’, he was a familiar face in their everyday lives and someone they had imagined watching their children grow up.
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In an emotional joint Instagram post shared on Tuesday, November 10, Divyanka and Vivek remembered Dhanpat Mahatu, who lost his life after a fire broke out at their residential complex in Andheri West on Saturday night, November 7, just a day before Diwali. The couple also shared an old video showing Dhanpat blessing their newborn babies when they first brought them home.
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Their tribute has struck an emotional chord with fans, not simply because of the tragedy itself, but because it highlights the often-overlooked relationships people build with those who quietly become part of their daily routines.
Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya remember the man who welcomed their twins
Recalling their first moments with Dhanpat after welcoming their twin boys, the couple described how he was among the first people to greet and bless the babies when they arrived home.
They wrote that they had imagined years of memories ahead: Dhanpat watching the boys grow, playing with them and remaining a familiar presence in their childhood. The couple admitted that they never imagined those ordinary moments would become memories they would have to hold on to.
The emotional video accompanying the note offered a glimpse of the bond they shared. For Divyanka and Vivek, Dhanpat was not just someone working at the building’s entrance. He was someone they trusted and recognised as part of their extended everyday family.
The couple also made a heartfelt promise to their sons. When the children are old enough to understand, they will tell them about the kind man who welcomed them home and blessed them at the beginning of their lives.
Family escaped the fire with twin babies, but tragedy followed
According to the couple’s account, they had planned to step out on the evening of November 7. However, their departure kept getting delayed, and they were still at home when the fire broke out.
That delay proved crucial. Being inside the apartment allowed them to notice the danger in time and evacuate with their twin sons, family members and household staff.
The actors also shared visuals recorded from their apartment window, showing flames emerging from another flat in the building. The situation was frightening enough to force residents to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere.
Initially, Divyanka and Vivek believed they had escaped with nothing more than a terrifying experience and damage to their property. The situation became much more devastating when they learnt that Dhanpat had not survived.
The couple revealed that even after taking refuge at a friend’s home, they struggled to accept the news. They continued hoping that the reports were somehow untrue.
Their words capture the emotional shift from relief at having saved their family to grief over the loss of someone they knew personally.
What happened at Runwal Tower in Andheri West?
The fire broke out on Saturday night at a residential apartment on the 17th floor of the Andheri West high-rise identified in reports as Runwal Tower, also referred to as Runwal Elegante.
According to information shared by the Mumbai Fire Brigade, the emergency call was received at approximately 9.50 pm. The blaze reportedly originated in the living room of the apartment and affected electrical installations, wiring and household articles.
A diya lit during the Diwali puja is suspected to have triggered the fire. The flat’s occupants had reportedly performed the puja before leaving for dinner. Elderly family members and domestic help were still inside when the incident occurred.
The domestic worker reportedly helped the elderly residents reach safety while the fire was still at a relatively early stage.
Dhanpat Mahatu was found unconscious in the lift area as smoke spread through the building. Firefighters rescued him using the staircase and rushed him to hospital. He was subsequently shifted to Cooper Hospital, where he was declared dead in the early hours of Sunday.
The fire was brought under control within the night, but its consequences extended far beyond the damage to the apartment.
Why Dhanpat’s death has raised serious fire-safety questions
The tragedy has also brought renewed attention to evacuation procedures in Mumbai’s high-rise residential buildings.
According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade’s preliminary account, Dhanpat appeared to have attempted to use a lift while smoke was spreading. Fire officials have stressed that people should use staircases or designated evacuation lifts during a fire, rather than ordinary passenger lifts.
Smoke can spread rapidly through enclosed areas, making lift lobbies and elevators particularly dangerous during an emergency. A person can become disoriented or trapped if power or lift operations are disrupted.
The building’s firefighting system was reported to be operational and helped control the blaze. However, the death has prompted difficult questions about how residents, security personnel and building staff are trained to respond when an emergency unfolds.
The incident has also renewed discussion about fire-response infrastructure in the Lokhandwala, Versova and Oshiwara areas. Residents have raised concerns about emergency response times and the challenges firefighters can face while reaching upper floors of densely populated high-rise buildings.
These concerns could lead to greater scrutiny of evacuation plans, fire drills, emergency communication systems and staff training in residential complexes. Any such review would be particularly important for people who work in these buildings and may be expected to assist residents during emergencies.
The exact cause of the fire remains subject to investigation. The diya is a suspected source, not a confirmed finding. Fire officials have also advised people to keep lamps away from curtains and other combustible materials and to take precautions when lighting diyas during festivals.
Electricity restored, but normal life has not returned
In their post, Divyanka and Vivek explained that electricity was gradually restored as Diwali arrived. Gas supply and lifts were reinstated the following day after safety checks.
However, the couple made it clear that the return of basic services did not mean life had returned to normal.
The fire had affected the entire residential wing emotionally. For residents who had witnessed the incident, the experience was not simply about temporary disruption or property damage. It was about the loss of a person who had been part of their community.
Dhanpat had reportedly worked at the building for around nine years and was well liked by residents. His long association with the complex meant that many families had come to recognise him as a familiar and dependable presence.
For Divyanka and Vivek, the loss carries an especially personal dimension because of the connection he had formed with their newborn sons.
Divyanka and Vivek’s tribute: ‘You were part of our everyday lives’
In the most poignant part of their message, the couple reflected on how the fire had changed the meaning of Diwali for them.
They wrote that while the flames had dimmed the lights of their home that night, the loss of a precious life had left a darkness in their hearts that no amount of celebration could undo.
They described Dhanpat as someone they trusted and someone they had pictured being part of their children’s future. Their message ended with a promise to remember him and tell their boys about his kindness.
The tragedy is also a reminder that the people who become part of our daily lives are not always those we spend the most time talking about. Security guards, lift operators, housekeeping staff and other building workers often become familiar faces whose presence brings a sense of comfort and routine.
For now, Divyanka and Vivek are dealing with the emotional aftermath of an incident in which their family escaped safely but someone close to their everyday lives did not.
Their tribute has turned the spotlight away from celebrity life and towards a much more human story: a family’s gratitude for the man who welcomed their children home, and the heartbreak of knowing that he will not be there to see them grow up.
Dhanpat Uncle may no longer be at the building’s entrance, but the couple’s words make one thing clear: his place in their family’s memories will remain.
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