Ahuja was undergoing treatment at the Hinduja Hospital in Mahim for the past two days. He is survived by his two sons and three daughters. The funeral held at 7.30 pm was attended by film personalities, politicians, friends, among others. Ahuja was born in pre-partition Gujranwala (now in Pakistan) on January 26, 1917. He studied in an engineering college at Lahore and was adjudged the best football player. Veteran producer Mehboob Khan brought him to Mumbai in 1937 and cast him in Ek hi Raasta as the leading man. From then commenced a journey into the film world.

Ahuja acted in nearly 50 films, out of which he was the hero in 40 films. He gave many hits including films such as Aurat, Samaj ko Badal Dalo, Return of Toofan Mail, Shankar Parvati and even his last Aulad. He met his wife late Nirmala Devi during themaking of the film Savera, where she was cast opposite him. They were paired in three films and married in 1941. Nirmala Devi went on to become a renowned classical vocalist.