The veteran actor died due to a cardiac arrest on Thursday at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

Veteran actor and theatre artist Reema Lagoo, known for essaying the role of a mother to popular stars like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, breathed her last early on Thursday at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Lagoo will be remembered for her roles in films like Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho, and television serials like Tu Tu Main Main and Shrimaan Shrimati.

In a statement, Lagoo’s son-in-law Vinay Waikul said, “She was complaining of chest pain, so we took her to hospital around 1 a.m. She died of heart attack around 3.15 a.m. She was perfectly fine and had no health issues...so it is really shocking for all us that she is no more with us.”

Her mortal remains were taken from the hospital to her Andheri West apartment at 10.45 a.m. Many noted personalities from the film fraternity like actor Aamir Khan, his wife Kiran Rao, directors Mahesh Manjrekar and Mahesh Bhatt came to pay their last respects. Khan said, “We are still in shock. We were not aware that she had any such medical condition. I did my first film with Reemaji, which was Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. She was a brilliant actress with a big heart.”

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The last leg of her journey commenced at 2 p.m. and reached the Oshiwara crematorium, Jogeshwari at 2.45 p.m. Amidst tight police security, Lagoo’s co-stars, friends and relatives made their way to bid her goodbye. Among others, actors Rishi Kapoor, Raza Murad, Kiran Kumar, Rakesh Bedi, Manoj Joshi and Anang Desai were present at the crematorium. Television actor Rajesh Puri said, “I have known her since 1981. She was a very pleasant and talented lady. We have worked together in Prithvi Theatre [productions]. It’s too early for her to go.”

The actor’s current co-stars, Viraf Patel and Barkha Bisht Sengupta from the ongoing TV show Naamkarann came to offer their respects. Denizens from the Marathi film and theatre world, like Supriya and Sachin Pilgaonkar, Shreyas Talpade, Ramesh Bhatkar, Suhita Thatte attended her last rites. Thatte reminisced, “I have known her since our school days. I remember we did a play together when I was in Class VI and she was in Class X. We worked together in Shrimaan Shrimati. I will always remember her as a friend, a wonderful actor, a warm and loving person.”

The actor’s last rites were performed by her daughter, Mrunmayee Lagoo. As the sun blazed on the summer day and the smoke dissipated into the suburban Mumbai skyline, the warmth and smiling face of Lagoo lingered on.

Remembering the actor

Born to Marathi actor Mandakini Bhadbhade on June 21, 1958, Lagoo ventured into acting after completing her secondary education. She started her career with the Marathi film Sinhasan (1979) and got her first Hindi feature film break with Aakrosh (1980) where she portrayed a lavani dancer. She later became a household name with her unforgettable portrayal of characters like Kokila Kulkarni from Shrimaan Shrimati (1994) and Devaki Verma in Tu Tu Main Main (1994).

In addition to this, she was also the favourite on-screen mother for commercially successful Rajshri films like Maine Pyaar Kiya (1989), Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994) and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999). She was nominated twice for Filmfare best supporting actor for Maine Pyaar Kiya and Aashiqui. Her tryst with Marathi film Reshamgaath (2002) earned her the best actress award at the Maharashtra State Film Awards.

Her demise is saddening: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled with Lagoo’s death. In a message, he said, “Reema Lagoo was a versatile actor who left a big impact in the film & TV world. Her demise is saddening. My deepest condolences.”

With inputs from agencies