Celina Jaitly's father passes away

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley's father Colonel Vikram Kumar Jaitly passed away on Tuesday morning due to prolonged illness.

The 35-year-old actress confirmed the news in an emotional Facebook post.

"Our beloved father Colonel Vikram Kumar Jaitly, left us yesterday at 5:23 AM... I thank the doctors who did everything to save him on behalf of my family," Celina told PTI.

The actress-model thanked the officers and jawans of the Kumaon battalion for giving her father a ceremonial send off with full military honours at MHOW (military HQ of war) crematorium.

In the Facebook post, the actress paid tribute to her father and described him as a popular leader among his colleagues, who called him 'Tiger'.

"Papa, wherever you are, do send us a sign that you are fine and in the soldiers' heavens where you have a very special place and always wanted to be. We hope to see you one day, when you come to hold our hands for our crossing over... Until then we will miss you dearly," she wrote.