In Pics | Remembering prominent people who died in 2020

From Diego Maradona to matriarch of the US Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsberg, in a year defined by a devastating pandemic, the world lost iconic defenders of civil rights, great athletes and entertainers who helped define their genres. Let us take a look at the most notable deaths of the year 2020:

S P Balasubrahmanyam | The celebrated playback singer died on September 25 at a Chennai hospital due to Covid-19 complications. The 74-year-old singer, popularly known as SPB, built a five-decade career in film and stage music world with hits in 16 languages, many in Tamil and his mother tongue Telugu. Credit: PTI Photo

Rishi Kapoor | On April 30, just as the entertainment world was coming to terms with the death of Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor slipped away, also of cancer. He was 67. The star who shone bright for five decades, carrying forward the legacy of the famed Kapoors, began with “Bobby” in 1973, danced his way through innumerable romances and then moved into character roles in films such as “Mulk” and “Do Dooni Chaar”. Credit: AFP Photo

Diego Maradona | Diego Maradona, football's troubled genius and one of the greatest players ever, died of heart failure and was laid to rest amid huge fanfare and high emotion, with thousands of people crowding the streets around the capital as his body was taken to be buried. He became an international superstar and achieved semi-divine status at home after leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup. He struggled with addiction in his last years. Credit: Reuters Photo

Pranab Mukherjee | Pranab Mukherjee, India’s 13th president, Congress’ troubleshooter through the decades and one of the country’s most respected politicians, died on August 31 after a 21-day illness and five decades in public life. Mukherjee managed the rare distinction of serving three prime ministers as minister — Indira Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh – ever the Congress’ trusted Man Friday as it evolved over the decades. Credit: AFP Photo

Irrfan Khan | Bollywood star Irrfan Khan, known for his roles in blockbusters

Sushant Singh Rajput | On June 14, the 34-year-old star of

Actor Chiranjeevi Sarja, arguably one of the most promising young heroes in the Kannada film industry, also passed away this year. The nephew of ‘Action King’ Arjun, had carved a niche for himself with his impressive selection of roles, charming screen presence and sincere performances.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg | US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — known as the Notorious RBG to her many admirers — was one of the many noteworthy figures who died in 2020. In a court known for solemn legal proceedings, Ginsburg became a cultural and social media icon whose fierce defense of women's rights earned her a devoted following. She died in September after 27 years on the country's highest court. Credit: Reuters File Photo

Kobe Bryant | US basketball legend Kobe Bryant, 41, died in a horrific helicopter crash northwest of Los Angeles that also claimed the lives of his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people. LA Lakers icon Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that began in 1996 straight out of a high school. He was a two-time Olympic gold medallist, helping spark the US squad to titles in 2008 and 2012. Credit: AP/PTI Photo

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati | India’s spice king and MDH Masala owner Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, familiar to all those who watched him in his company’s ads over the years, died on December 3. School-dropout Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, famously known as 'MDH Dadaji' for repeated appearance in his spice brand's television ads, started his spices business journey as a nondescript shack in Delhi's Karol Bagh after selling his tonga. Credit: MDH website

Soumitra Chatterjee | On November 15, the actor who transcended the boundaries of language, state and country to take Indian cinema to the world, died from post Covid-19 complications in a Kolkata hospital. The 85-year-old, also known as Satyajit Ray’s alter ego, was one of India’s most well known actors, feted for his performance in classics such as “Charulata” and “Ghaire Baire”. But he was more than just a Bengali star and more than just about Ray, continuing to write, critique and act till the end. Credit: AFP Photo

Amar Singh | Veteran politician and former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh passed away, leaving his well-wishers in a state of shock. The Rajya Sabha MP shared a chequered relationship with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, which often grabbed attention for a variety of reasons. Credit: PTI Photo

Ram Vilas Paswan | The veteran Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan died at the age of 74 at a private hospital where he had undergone a heart operation. He took pride in describing himself as a cementing force among, at times, warring allies. Credit: PTI Photo

Hosni Mubarak | Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak, who was swept from power by the Arab Spring in 2010, died in a military hospital aged 91. Credit: AFP Photo

Chadwick Boseman | Actor Chadwick Boseman, who catapulted to international stardom and acclaim as T'Challa of fictitious African country Wakanda aka superhero Black Panther in the MCU films, died of cancer aged 43. He is also known for essaying historical black icons like baseball star Jackie Robinson in

Saroj Khan | Bollywood’s feisty ‘Masterji’ who choreographed more than 2,000 songs, including

Indian classical music doyen Pandit Jasraj died following a cardiac arrest at his home in New Jersey. The classical vocalist, who infused life into the most complex ragas and held audiences spellbound with his craft, left behind a storied legacy spanning more than eight decades. Credit: PTI Photo