Veteran actress Rita Bhaduri, who worked extensively in films and television shows, including the ongoing Nimki Mukhiya, died in a Mumbai hospital on Tuesday.
A source said Bhaduri had been admitted at Sujay Hospital in Vile Parle for more than a week fighting a weak kidney and was on dialysis.
“She died at around 1.30am and her family members took her body from the hospital at around 4am,” the source said.
Zama Habib, producer and writer of Nimki Mukhiya, said that he knew it was going to happen.
“We were at the hospital last night. Her condition was not good. We have cancelled today’s shoot due to her demise,” Habib said.
In Nimki Mukhiya, Bhaduri was seen as a Imarti Devi, the grandmother of the house.
“The last time she shot for the show was almost 15 days back. We were waiting for her to recover. Today is her funeral. We will see what can be done,” said Habib when asked what would happen to character on the show.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Bhaduri played important supporting parts in movies such as Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Kya Kehna, Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon. She also featured in Gujarati movies.
On the TV front, her credits include popular shows such as Hasratein, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Khichdi, Ek Nayi Pehchaan, Amanat, Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka and Kumkum. She was particularly popular for playing roles of a mother or grandmother.
Actor Shishir Sharma took to Facebook to share the news of Bhaduri’s demise.
“We deeply regret to inform you that Rita Bhaduri has departed for her journey beyond... Extremely sad. Lost a wonderful human being... A mother to many of us. Will miss [you] Ma,” he wrote.
Sharma said that the actress’ funeral rites will be held on Tuesday at noon at the Cremation Ground, Parsi Wada Road.
Bhaduri’s Nimki Mukhiya co-stars remembered the actress as a good person.
“For the past two months, she was not keeping well. I will really miss her,” actress Shiwani Chakraborty said. “More than a co-actor, she was a great human being. I learnt a lot of things from her. She was just like a family member to me.”
“We used to share the same room,” actress Garima Singh, who played her daughter-in-law in the show, said. “So we used to talk about lots of things. She was a very positive person.”
