Bollywood and television star, best known for her mom roles, Reema Lagoo passed away early Thursday morning. The 59-year old suffered from cardiac arrest. She passed away at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai around 3:15 am.
The talented actor was known for her comic roles as much as she was for her melodramatic portrayals. Born as Nayan Bhadbhade, she started her career with Marathi theatre. Apart from doing many Bollywood films, she has also acted in Marathi films occasionally. Her most memorable roles would be the matriarch in Hum Saath Saath Hain, Anjali's (Kajol) mother in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Nisha's (Madhuri Dixit) mother in Hum Aapke Hai Koun...!, the fearless mother who shot down her own son in Vaastav: The Reality and her latest small screen role as an antagonist in Naamkarann.
For me, however, she will always be the dominating and slightly dramatic mom-in-law, Devaki Verma in Tu Tu Main Main, the 90s hit TV sitcom. There are several reasons why the duo of her and Supriya Pilgaonkar as the boisterous daughter-in-law Radha Verma will never fail to crack you up. The serial was not based on typecast portrayals of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. Theirs was a love-hate relationship with a lot of witty one-liners and sarcastic comments from both.
Lagoo's character, though critical of her daughter in law, would never put her down or launch a personal attack. Supriya's character, too, would be prompt to stand up for herself and comment on events around her. Their banter onscreen was confrontational, yet friendly. Should spying, gossiping neighbours say something foul, they would always stand together as a team. Of course, Ravi Verma, Radha's unsuspecting husband, played by Mahesh Thakur would invariably get pulled into the many disagreements the duo had, but things would never get out of hand.
For all these reasons and many more, it would be safe to say that the serial was ahead of its time in portraying a realistic picture of the relationship; especially when today the small screen is crowded with serials that show the relationship in a considerably pathetic light where they are always shown to be scheming against one another. Tu Tu Main Main's light-hearted take on the equation and Lagoo's character as a stubborn, yet loving mom-in-law, makes it one of her most memorable roles for me. The simplistic middle class setting and costumes, made the show relatable on many levels.
