Noted Marathi-Hindi film actor Seema Deo passes away

MUMBAI: Seema Deo, who acted in over 80 Marathi and Hindi films in a career spanning more than six decades, passed away at her Bandra residence on Thursday. She had been suffering from several age-related ailments including Alzheimer's. She was 81.

Her notable movies include ‘Jagachya Pathivar’, ‘Juna Te Sona’, ‘Anand’, ‘Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan’, ‘Kora Kagaz’, ‘Apradh’, ‘Janaki’, ‘Bezubaan’, ‘Koshish’, ‘Sansar’ and ‘Yehi Hai Zindagi.’

Born Nalini Saraf, her gentle manner and warm smile often led her to being typecast as the sweet sister, daughter-in-law, mother or aunt -- or a hostel warden as in 'Bezubaan'. In producer-director Sadashiv J Row Kavi’s hit, ‘Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan’ (1961), which had Meena Kumari and Balraj Sahni in central roles, she was paired opposite Shailesh Kumar as a young couple in love.

Seema's husband, actor Ramesh Deo, died in February 2022. In a TV interview, Ramesh once recounted how he had proposed marriage on a bullock cart during a shooting. "Seema's mother knew I was fond of her so she kept a close watch on her during our shoots. One day we were filming a bullock cart scene. I drove the cart out of sight of her strict ‘helicopter’ mother! Seema thought it was part of the scene. But I said no, I have brought you here to persuade you to marry me. Now say you will marry me. And she agreed!"

Seema and Ramesh recreated their real-life partnership in 20 movies such as ‘Anand’, ‘Kora Kagaz’, ‘Jagachya Pathivar’, ‘Vardakshina’, and the Marathi hit, Molkarin. Many would remember the scene in Anand where Rajesh Khanna lip syncs ‘Maine tere liye hi saat rang ke sapne chune’ as Amitabh Bachchan and the Deos listen in attention. In an odd instance, Seema also played Ramesh’s sister in 'Saraswatichandra'. The couple was conferred the Raja Paranjape Lifetime Achievement Award in Pune in 2014.

Seema is survived by two sons, actor Ajinkya Deo and adman-director Abhinay Deo. Abhinay told PTI, "My mother passed away at 8.30-9.00 am at her residence in Bandra due to old age. She had withdrawn completely, and eventually it was just old age. Alzheimer's is such a thing that you stop figuring out how to function. She had dementia leading up to Alzheimer's and she was suffering from it for over three years."

"There's no specific reason (for her death). Due to Alzheimer's and dementia, the person forgets how to walk. The muscle memory starts coming down and one by one, the organs start shutting down."

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and various film celebrities, including actor Ashwini Bhave, offered condolences. The last rites were scheduled to be held at Shivaji Park crematorium at 5.00 pm on Thursday.