The Indian theatre, film and television world on Thursday morning woke up to the news of the untimely demise of veteran actress Reema Lagoo, one of Bollywood’s favourite on-screen mothers. The industry’s love for her talent and her warm-hearted nature was evident in the outpouring of tributes over social media and during her last rites.

Reema died following a cardiac arrest early on Thursday morning, a family source said. She was 59 and breathed her last at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, in Andheri west, where she was rushed shortly after midnight.

Divorced from her husband and actor Vivek Lagoo, she is survived by her daughter, Mrunmayee Lagoo, 35, who is a film and stage actress and theatre director.

Her family members and colleagues from Hindi and Marathi film, stage and television industries turned up to bid a tearful adieu to Reema at her funeral in Oshiwara.

Daughter Mrunmayee accompanied by her husband Vinay Vayakul lit the funeral pyre amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. Many prominent film personalities like Rishi Kapoor, Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, Shreyas Talpade, Rakesh Bedi, Raza Murad, Anang Desai, Sulabha Arya, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Mahesh Kothare, Sonali Kulkarni, Vijay Gokhale, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sunil Barve, Ramesh Bhatkar and Ashoke Pandit, looked on in grief.

Mumbai: Actors Kiran Kumar and Rishi Kapoor at the funeral .

Before the last rites, actor Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao, besides filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, visited Reema’s house.

Mumbai: Aamir Khan along with wife and filmmaker Kiran Rao during the funeral.

Aamir said on an emotional note: “We are all in shock. She had no problems that we knew of. It happened suddenly and is saddening. My first film was with Reema ji — ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’. She was a fabulous actor and her heart was so clean. She was also very socially conscious. We only pray that she rests in peace.”

Mumbai: Actress Kajol during the funeral.

Reema was in action till Wednesday night on the set of TV show “Naamkaran”, in which she played antagonist Dayawanti.

“Reema ji wanted to leave early from the set yesterday due to a throat infection. She used to come in to the set at 9 a.m. everyday, but she had said she would come in a little late today (Thursday) around 11 a.m. because she wanted to get herself checked,” a source from the show’s unit told IANS.

Too sudden, too soon — that’s how her colleagues, juniors and associates received the news of Reema’s death.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, among other politicians, paid tribute to her. Modi described her as a versatile actor who left a big impact in the film and TV world, while Sonia Gandhi called her a “household name who portrayed an array of heart-warming characters on screen”.

Celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Mahesh Bhatt, Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Renuka Shahane, Ashutosh Gowariker, Rishi Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Dia Mirza penned heartfelt social media posts in remembrance of the warm, radiant and versatile actress.

Noted for her roles in Hindi movies like “Rangeela”, “Maine Pyar Kiya”, “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!”, “Aashiqui”, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, “Hum Saath Saath Hain”, “Vastaav”, “Saajan”, “Kal Ho Na Ho”, Reema became synonymous as Bollywood’s quintessional ‘Maa’ — a middle-aged, modern, but understanding mother. She played on-screen mother to actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Kajol and more.

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Starting her career as Baby Nayan Bhadbhade, a charming schoolgirl in Pune, Reema soon graduated to larger roles on Marathi stage and films, then television and Hindi-Marathi films, besides doing a 10-year long stint with the Union Bank of India banks from 1979.

Recalled former colleague Vishwas Utagi: “She worked in the Fort branch of Union Bank of India for nearly a decade and simultaneously pursued her passion for acting.”

“She was a prominent representative of the UBI in various inter-bank cultural events and bagged many individual and group prizes,” Utagi told IANS.

At that time, she competed with other bankers like Amol Palekar (of Bank of India) and Ashok Saraf (of State Bank of India), among many others, who later went on to become legendary actors, he added.

After working in about 10 Marathi films as a child star, Baby Nayan — who became Reema Lagoo after marriage — later graduated to plum, bigger roles, and after getting a strong foothold in the film industry, she and husband left their banking jobs.

On television, the actress was seen in prominent roles in “Khandaan”, “Shrimaan Shrimati”, “Tu Tu, Main Main,” “Do Aur Do Paanch”, and the ongoing serial “Naamkaran”. In Marathi, she gave notable stage performances in “Ghar Tighanche Have”, “Chal Aatap Lavkar”, “Jhale Mokle Aakash”, “To Ek Kshann”, “Purush Buland” and “Vitho Rakhumai”.

For Marathi showbiz, Reema was ‘Reema tai’. Actress Usha Jadhav said she will be missed, while Renuka Shahane, who famously played her daughter in Hindi movie “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!”, wrote a long and emotional Facebook post on Reema’s inner and outer beauty.

Besides acting, Reema took keen interest in public activities, took part in several banking agitations, sat on a dharna in 2013 to successfully stop demolition of the 80-year-old Bharatmata Cinema hall in Parel, and joined a procession for the welfare of the dishoused millworkers of Mumbai a few years ago.

IANS

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan on Tuesday praised his wife and filmmaker Kiran Rao’s singing ability, who has made her singing debut in a music video.

“At home, Kiran often sings for me. She is a very good singer, so I thought she should do the playback,” he said at the launch of a special music video of “Satyameva Jayate Watercup”.

“The song is composed by Ajay-Atul and is directed by Nagraj Manjule of ‘Sairat’ fame. A new singer has been introduced. Kiran has made her debut in singing with this song,” said the “PK” star.

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About her singing debut, Kiran said: “Aamir forced me to sing. I was very nervous at the studio, but Ajay-Atul supported me a lot.”

About the “Watercup” campaign, the “Dangal” actor said: “We wanted to make it a ‘people’s movement’. We started this campaign in three districts and now 30 districts have been included.”

“I am very much nervous, much more than the time when my film releases. I feel happy that my film ‘Dangal’ has been well received. But I feel I will be happier when this campaign will succeed in the second round. That will be more satisfying for all of us,” he added.

Besides Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, filmmaker Nagraj Manjule, composer Ajay Atul, lyricist Guru Thakur, and actors Atul Kulkarni and Sonali Kulkarni, among others were present at the event.

IANS

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Karan Johar on Thursday at a press conference of 18th MAMI film festival announced an award for female filmmakers to encourage more gender equality in Indian cinema.
Karan Johar said, “We are also thrilled to announce a special award this year called the MAMI MasterCard Best Indian Female Filmmaker 2016 award. This award for Rs 15 lakh is also for Indian films only. This award aims to strengthen the female voice in Indian cinema.”

“Over the last five years, we’ve made some progress here but it’s much too little. The representation of both genders onscreen can only benefit with the inclusion of more female voices. This award is a step toward that.”

Over 180 films from 54 countries, including features, documentaries, short films to be showcased at the festival. The Film Festival will honour director and screenwriter Sai Paranjpye and acclaimed filmmaker, Jia Zhangke with Excellence in Cinema Award.

Filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj said, “Our Indian Excellence in Cinema award goes to filmmaker Sai Paranjpye. Sai Paranjpye’s career has spanned over four decades. Her films are milestones in Indian cinema. Sai’s cinema is defined by certain humanity.

“Her films didn’t have oversized heroes and villains. She told slice of life stories about common people. Her work continues to inspire generations of filmmakers.”

The 18th JIO MAMI Film Festival which was unveiled on Thursday in a press conference witnessed actor Kangana Ranaut along with the Board of Trustees – Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Rohan Sippy, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Manish Mundra, Vishal Bhardwaj and Dibakar Banerjee with Star Co-chairperson, Kiran Rao and Festival Director Anupama Chopra.

Festival Co-Chairperson, Kiran Rao said, “It’s been a very exciting year for the Academy. Firstly, we are now a year around presence. We launched the MAMI Film Club in May with a conversation between Sir Ian McKellen and Aamir. We have followed that up with India premieres of films such as Brahman Naman and India in a Day. The Academy is committed to bringing you great film content and conversations not just in October but through the year.”

The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star is less than a month away from offering the city a movie extravaganza unlike any other. The festival is set to kick off on 20th October.

IANS