Bollywood’s sweet mother Reema Lagoo dies of cardiac arrest

Actress Reema Lagoo, best known for playing the modern-day Bollywood mother in films such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and Kal Ho Na Ho, passed away on Thursday at a hospital in Mumbai. She was 59.

Lagoo died of a cardiac arrest in the early hours of the morning at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

According to the hospital's Executive Director Ram Narain, she was admitted to the hospital late last night after she complained of chest pain.

She is survived by her daughter Mrunmayee, who is also a theatre and film actress as well as theatre director.

Lagoo's son-in-law Vinay Waikul said, “She was complaining of chest pain so we took her to the hospital at around 1 AM. She passed away due to a heart attack around 3.15 AM.

“She was perfectly fine and had no health issues... so it is really shocking for all of us that she is no more with us.”

Condolence messages from the film and theatre community flooded in as the news of her sudden death spread. The 90’s super star, Madhuri Dixit lamented her death in a tweet.

Director, producer Karan Johar, who had directed Reema Lagoo in hits like Kal Ho Na Ho and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, tweeted-

Calling her a favourite on screen Mom, Priyanka Chopra said, her death is an irreparable loss to the world of art and cinema.

Actor Boman Irani tweeted-

Born in Mumbai, Lagoo started her career with theatre, where she performed in several Marathi plays. She later took it as a full-time profession.

At the age of 30, she worked in Mansoor Khan's Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, where she portrayed Juhi Chawla's mother Kamla Singh.

The prolific actress soon became popular as the affectionate and genial mother. From Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan to Govinda and Madhuri Dixit, Lagoo played mother to all the top actors and actresses of the Hindi film industry on silver screen.

One of her most successful roles was Hum Aapke Hai Koun...!, where she essayed the role of Anupam Kher's wife and Madhuri Dixit's mother.

On television, Lagoo was popular for playing spirited characters like Kokila (Koki) and Devki Verma in “Shrimaan Shrimati” and “Tu Tu Main Main”, respectively.

Lagoo also appeared in films like Saajan, Vaastav, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Saath-Saath Hain, Deewana Mastana, Yes Boss, and Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon.

Her acting career spanned four decades. She was last seen on the television show Naamkaran, which aired on Star Plus.

Mahesh Bhatt, who wrote Naamkaran said, “When a friend passes away one is hurled into deep silence. I cannot forget the last goodbye we said to each other where we promised to see each other on the sets of Naamkaran soon.

“But that didn't happen. I am still grappling with the news of her sudden death,” he added.

With inputs from NH Web Desk