Mumbai: Veteran actress Reema Lagoo passed away this morning in Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai due to cardiac arrest. The news came as a shock to the TV and film fraternity.
The actress has played the reel mom of several Bollywood stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Dutt and many more in several blockbusters like 'Maine Pyar Kiya', 'Kal Ho Naa Ho, 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and 'Hum Saath-Saath Hain'. Waking up to the sad news, many B-town celebs and bigwigs took to their social networking websites to express their sorrow on her untimely departure.
TV celebs like Karan Tacker, Maniesh Paul, Keith Sequeira, Mohnish Behl and Preetika Rao have mourned the death of the veteran actress.
Actress Divyanka Tripathi paid her tribute to the actress on Twitter and wrote, "#RIP Reema Lagoo ji. Big loss to the industry!"
Nach Baliye 8 host and actor Karan Tacker took to Twitter and wrote, "Such a pivotal part of the films I grew up to... truly sad.. RIP #ReemaLagoo ji." TV actor Zain Imam, who was also her co-star in Naamkarann wrote, "Nobody can match the zeal and enthusiasm you had ma'am. U will be missed RIP #Reemalagoo. Was indeed a pleasure working with you in Naamkaran."
Reema Lagoo was last seen in the Star Plus show Naamkarann. She played the role of Dayavanti Mehta, grandmother to the main protagonist Avni on Naamkarann.
On the morning of May 18, the film industry woke up to the news of the sad demise of the veteran actor in Mumbai. She was 58 and passed away after a cardiac arrest at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Till last night, Reema was shooting for her television show Naamkarann and complained of chest pain after she reached home. She was rushed to the hospital, but sadly, could not make it. She is survived by daughter Mrunmayee.
With a career spanning almost four decades in films, television and theatre, Reema was an actor par excellence. Acting was in her blood, as she hailed from a film family (her mother Mandakini Bhadbhade was a popular actor), and she started her career by doing theatre. Her real name, Nayan, was changed to Reema Lagoo post her marriage to actor Vivek Lagoo and even though the couple separated, she continued to use the name and surname as she considered it lucky for her.
After dabbling in Marathi theatre in the 80s, Shyam Bengal launched her in Hindi films with Kalyug opposite Shashi Kapoor. She then did films like Aakrosh, Nasoor and Rihaai. Her first commercial success was Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, where she played Juhi Chawla's mother. This role established her as the perennial mother for the next two decades.
Reema's next film, Salman Khan and Bhagyashree-starrer Maine Pyaar Kiya, made her a nationwide sensation. She played a modern but sanskaari mother, challenging the prototype of Bollywood mothers of that time. Reema's onscreen pairing with Salman Khan as mother and son was loved by the audience so much that it was repeated in many other hits like Saajan and Hum Saath Saath Hai. She worked with all leading Indian filmmakers and actors in a career spanning almost four decades.
Reema's career in television was equally glorious, but mostly in the comedy genre. Shows like Tu Tu Main Main and Shriman Shrimati explored her funny side. However, when she started her television career, way back in 1985, it was with a soap opera, Khandaan. Till the time of her death she remained active on television, and in fact, shot for Mahesh Bhatt's show, Naamkarann, the evening before her sudden demise.
As per the reports the actress had shot for the show till 7 PM yesterday (May 17) and had left for home after wrapping up the shoot.
She had recently shot for an upcoming promo of the show. The makers of Naamkarann have called of the shoot of the show today.
She is survived by daughter Mrunmayee, who is also a theatre and film actor and theatre director.
Reema played one of the prime characters in Naamkarann, and the show will surely suffer due to her untimely demise. However, as they say, the show must go on...
