Reema Lagoo

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 gained widespread attention after her roles in the 90s classic TV sitcoms Shriman Shrimati (as Kokila Kulkarni) and Tu Tu Main Main (as Devaki Verma).

Career

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 Marathi stage after a long gap following 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, Hindi and Marathi films. She debuted in films in 1979 with the Marathi film Sinhasan.

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

Most prominently, she has starred in some of the biggest hits in the Bollywood industry including the Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), Yeh Dillagi (1994), Dilwale (1994), Rangeela (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999) Vaastav: The Reality (1999) In this role that earned her a fourth Filmfare Award nomination for best supporting actress, Lagoo played the mother of a gangster played by Sanjay Dutt. She has been credited in the media as a coming of a "new-age mother" in Hindi cinema.

Though mostly playing a middle-aged mother in films, she has also played other roles earlier in her career. She played the role of a dancer in Aakrosh (1980) and a cold-hearted businesswoman in Yeh Dillagi (1994).

Marathi films Lagoo also had a notable presence in Marathi cinema. She was awarded the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 2002 film Reshamgaath. Her role in Janma (2011), which she referred to as "one of the best roles in her career", received praise. Recognising her contribution to Marathi cinema, she was awarded the V Shantaram Award by the Government of Maharashtra.

Television 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

Personal life Reema Lagoo was born on 21 June 1958 as Nayan Bhadbhade. Lagoo's acting abilities were noted when she was a student at the Huzurpaga HHCP High School in Pune. She took to acting professionally after completing her secondary education. Starting 1979, she was employed with Union Bank of India for ten years in Bombay (now Mumbai), when, alongside appearances in television and films, she participated in the inter-bank cultural events.

She met Vivek Lagoo (1953—2025), her future colleague in the bank and stage actor, in 1976 and married him in 1978. Upon marriage, she adopted the name Reema Lagoo. Described by Vivek as "an understanding to restructure our lives", they separated later. The couple's daughter Mrunmayee Lagoo is also an actress and theatre director.

Death 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. Neelam Khurana Hindi

Television +List of television shows and roles Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1985 Khandaan 1988 Mahanagar 1993 Kirdaar 1994 Aasmaan Se Aagay 1994–1999 Shrimaan Shrimati Kokila Kulkarni 2002–2003 Dhadkan Prajakta Marathe 2006 Kadvee Khattee Meethi Yashoda Verma 2013 Tuza Maza Jamena Reema Limaye 2016–2017 Naamkarann Dayavanti Mehta Final appearance