Reema Lagoo

Biography

Reema Lagoo (born Nayan Bhadbhade; 21 June 1958 – 18 May 2017) was an Indian theatre and screen actress known for her work in Hindi and Marathi cinema. She began her acting career in the Marathi theatre, after which she became a household name for playing motherly roles in the 1990s and early 2000s.

She became a household name after her roles in the 90s classic TV sitcoms Shriman Shrimati (as Kokila Kulkarni) and as Devaki Verma starring opposite Supriya Pilgaonkar in Tu Tu Main Main.

Lagoo's career as an actor began as a child, influenced by her mother, who was a Marathi stage and film actress. She appeared in five films including Masterji, directed by Durga Khote. Her senior career continued in the Marathi stage after a long gap following her work as a child artiste.

It began with her coming to Mumbai and appearing in P. L. Deshpande's play, an adaptation of My Fair Lady. However, she received wider recognition with roles in television serials, and Hindi and Marathi films. She debuted in films in 1979 with the Marathi film Sinhasan.

She went on to play supporting roles with some of the biggest names in the Hindi film industry, mostly as the mother of the lead characters. She first rose to prominence with the Hindi film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) where she played Juhi Chawla's mother. She was seen in a controversial role in Aruna Raje's Rihaee (1988).

She then starred in the blockbuster film Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) as Salman Khan's mother and then in Saajan (1991), also a superhit success at the box office. She starred in action drama and crime thriller Gumrah (1993) as Sridevi's mother, Jai Kishen (1994) as Akshay Kumar's mother, and Rangeela (1995) as Urmila Matondkar's mother.

Her Gumrah (1993) was the seventh-highest grosser of the year at the box office, and Jai Kishen (1994) was a commercial success (declared 'semihit'). Rangeela (1995) was the highest-grosser of the year at the box office.

Lagoo also had a fairly successful career as a television actor in both Hindi and Marathi languages. She debuted on television in 1985 with the Hindi series Khandaan.

Her roles in Shriman Shrimati as Kokila Kulkarni and as Devaki Verma starring opposite Supriya Pilgaonkar in Tu Tu Main Main were her most successful shows, with the latter winning her the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Comic Role.

Lagoo had been shooting for the television series Naamkarann till 7 p.m. (IST) on 17 May 2017. After she complained of chest pain later that night, she was taken to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai at 1 a.m. (IST). She died at 3:15 a.m. (IST) from cardiac arrest.

At the time of death, she was described as being "perfectly fine" and having "no health issues". Her funeral was performed by her daughter Mrunmayee in Oshiwara crematorium, in Mumbai.