MUMBAI: Bollywood's favourite 'mom' Reema Lagoo, remembered for her constant quips and as the understanding, kind mother in many-a-hindi film passed away of cardiac arrest at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital here on Thursday.
Reema Lagoo, 59, suffered a massive cardiac arrest on Wednesday night after which she was admitted to the hospital in the western suburbs and was undergoing treatment, family sources said. Last rites would be performed at Oshiwara cremetorium at around 4 pm, they added.
Lagoo's son-in-law Vinay Waikul told reporters, "She was complaining of chest pain so we took her to the hospital 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."
Reema is survived by her daughter Mrunmayee Lagoo, also an actress. Reema was also born as Nayan Bhadbhade and took on the name Reema after her marriage to Marathi actor Vivek Lagoo.
IN PICTURES: Remembering Reema Lagoo
Born to famous Marathi stage actress Mandakini Bhadbhade, Lagoo’s acting talents were spotted early and she started acting in Marathi drama while in her teens. After Marathi theatre, she soon took to Marathi cinema in the '70s and started acting in Hindi films in the early 1980s.
She did supporting roles with some of the biggest names of Bollywood and won Filmfare Award for best supporting actress four times in the 1990s.
Reel mom to a lot of Bollywood’s sweethearts, she was Juhi Chawla's mom in one of her earliest noteworthy films Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) Salman Khan's mom in Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) from where she rose to prominence, and Shah Rukh Khan’s mom in Kal Ho Na Ho (2003).
She also starred in some of the biggest Bollywood blockbusters in the '90s like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Yeh Dillagi, Dilwale, Kuch Kuch Hota Hain, Hum Saath Saath Hain and Vastav.
Even as her career was on peak in Hindi cinema, Reema Lagoo took to television and will be remembered for her TV serials like Tu Tu Main Main and Shreeman Shreemati.
The Hindi film industry, as well as political leaders, took to social media to express their grief over the loss.