Veteran actress Sulabha Deshpande dies
The 80 year old had a prolific presence in Bollywood and Marathi cinema
A veteran of Bollywood and Marathi cinema, Sulabha Deshpande passed away in Mumbai on Saturday. She was 80.
She was a recipient of the 1987 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for acting in Hindi-Marathi theatre.
Starting her career as a teacher in Chhabildas High School, Dadar, Deshpande’s romance with theatre began when she asked the famous author-director Vijay Tendulkar in the 1950s to write some plays for school students.
Tendulkar, along with Vijaya Mehta, Shriam Lagoo and Arvind Deshpande — who later married Deshpande — were the initiators of the experimental theatre movement of the 1960s and 1970s, which Deshpande joined subsequently.
Deshpande was a prolific actress who was known for her roles as the lovable mother and grandmother and evil mother-in-law, in both Hindi and Marathi cinema. She undertook various projects in TV serials and Marathi theatre.
She is best known for the movies Bhumika, Gaman, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyo Aata Hai, Vijeta, Virasat, English Vinglish, and Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastan.
On stage, she acted in Marathi plays such as Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe, Sakharam Binder and Baba Harvale Aahet.
She was seen on the small screen in serials such as Rishtey, Badalte Rishte, Tanha and Mrs. Tendulkar.
In 1971, the Deshpandes cofounded Awishkar, a theatre group, and its children’s wing, Chandrashala.
Top Bollywood, television and stage actors, directors and her colleagues expressed shock at her death.
