Bollywood’s loving mom is no more

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.

Reema died following a cardiac arrest on Thursday morning. 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 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 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. 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 am 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 said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, among other politicians, paid tribute to her.

Noted for her roles in 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.