2018 claimed the lives of several talented Bollywood celebrities, leaving a void in the world of Hindi cinema. Some of these untimely deaths came as a shock to everyone…
We take a look back at the stars who passed away this year.
Srivallabh Vyas-January 7
[caption id="attachment_187144" align="aligncenter" width="670"]
Srivallabh Vyas in a still from the film Lagaan[/caption]
Srivallabh was gone too soon; he breathed his last on January 7, in Jaipur. The actor struggled with physical deterioration for some time, ever since he suffered a paralytic attack in 2008. Vyas appeared in several Hindi films like Shool, Lagaan, Chandni Bar, Abhay and Aan: Men at Work.
Ava Mukherjee-January 15
[caption id="attachment_187145" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Ava Mukherjee[/caption]
Veteran actress Ava Mukherjee passed away on January 15 this year at the age of 88. She was the popular face of several films and advertisements. She starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan in Devdas and also in Darna Zaroori Hai and Detective Naani.
Sridevi-February 25
[caption id="attachment_107924" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]
Sridevi[/caption]
Favourite of the entire country and perhaps one of the most animated actresses of her time, Sridevi passed away on February 25. She died in Dubai. where she had earlier attended nephew Mohit Marwah’s wedding. The actress was discovered in the bathtub and the reason given for her demise was: accidental drowning due to a cardiac arrest. Just 54, her untimely passing left the nation visibly shaken. Sri left a void in Bollywood that would be difficult to fill…
Nargis Rabadi aka Shammi aunty- March 6
[caption id="attachment_45758" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Shammi Aunty[/caption]
This veteran actress fondly known as Shammi aunty, left us at the age of 89. She was a popular face in Indian cinema and on television. Earlier, a heroine of her times, she signed her first film, Ustad Pedro at 18, in 1949. She changed her screen name to Shammi from Nargis at the insistence of actor-producer Sheikh Mukhtar. She later worked in popular films like Hum Saath Saath Hain and the TV serial Dekh Bhai Dekh among others.
Narendra Jha-March 14
[caption id="attachment_48860" align="aligncenter" width="952"]
Narendra Jha[/caption]
Just 55, Narendra passed away after a massive heart attack. He had worked in films like Raees, Haider and Kabil among others. Jha was born in Madhubani, Bihar and started his career in the television industry with serials like Begusarai, Ek Ghar Banaunga, Supercops vs Supervillians. His first film was Funtoosh in 2012.
Arjun Hingorani-May 5
[caption id="attachment_187147" align="aligncenter" width="554"]
Arjun Hingorani with Dharmendra and Prem Chopra[/caption]
This veteran filmmaker and producer who breathed his last this May was mourned by many veteran actors. His most notable achievement was to launch Dharmendra in 1960 with the film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere. He was known for making the first Sindhi film in India, titled Abana.
RECOMMENDED READ: Veteran actress Rita Bhaduri passes away at the age of 62
Rita Bhaduri-July 17
A well-known actress who left us this year was Rita Bhaduri. This 62-year-old lady was admitted to the hospital due to a kidney ailment. Bhaduri was equally famous in Bollywood as well as on television.
Sujatha Kumar-August 19
[caption id="attachment_118158" align="aligncenter" width="647"]
Sujatha Kumar[/caption]
This actress who was seen in English Vinglish alongside Sridevi passed away after suffering from cancer. Sujatha was the sister of actor-singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, who first confirmed the news of her demise.
Kalpana Lajmi-September 23
[caption id="attachment_138074" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Kalpana Lajmi[/caption]
A critically acclaimed director, Kalpana succumbed to a kidney ailment and liver failure, at 64. Lajmi was the daughter of renowned artist Lalita Lajmi and the niece of legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt. Some of her well-known films are Ek Pal, Rudaali, Daman, Darmiyaan and Chingaari.
Krishna Raj Kapoor-October 1
[caption id="attachment_142965" align="aligncenter" width="647"]
Krishna Raj Kapoor[/caption]
The matriarch of the Kapoor family, popularly known as Raj Kapoor’s original lady in white, passed away on October 1 due to a cardiac arrest. She was 87 years old. Krishna is survived by her five children; Randhir, Ritu, Rishi, Rima and Rajiv, apart from several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Nitin Bali-October 9
[caption id="attachment_148030" align="aligncenter" width="759"]
Nitin Bali[/caption]
Famous pop singer Nitin Bali passed away on October 9, due to a fatal car accident. He was known for his version of popular songs Neele Neele Ambar Par, Ek Ajnabee Haseena Se, Chukar Mere Man Ko, and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas among others. He was just 47 and is survived by wife Roma Bali and son Joshua.
Alyque Padamsee-November 17
[caption id="attachment_167744" align="aligncenter" width="920"]
Alyque Padamsee[/caption]
The father of Indian advertising and unique theatre personality Alyque breathed his last in November. Best known for his role as Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the 1982 historical drama Gandhi, Padamsee was the brain behind several iconic Indian ad campaigns including 'Lalitaji' for Surf, the 'Liril girl', 'Cherry Charlie' for Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish, 'Hamara Bajaj', the 'MRF muscle man' among other memorable campaigns. Heading Lintas India, he was credited for building it into one of the top advertising agencies of the country.
Mohammad Aziz-November 27
[caption id="attachment_187105" align="aligncenter" width="770"]
Mohammad Aziz[/caption]
This veteran singer passed away at the age of 64, at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. The singer lent his voice to over 2000 songs in several languages; including Hindi, Bengali and Odia films. He was a big fan of the legendary Mohammad Rafi and made his singing debut in the Bengali film Jyoti. He later debuted in Hindi film in 1984, with the film Ambar. His big moment came when he sang playback for Amitabh Bachchan in Mard, Anu Malik being the song composer.
Tulsi Ramsay-December 14
[caption id="attachment_187107" align="aligncenter" width="621"]
Tulsi Ramsay[/caption]
Known to direct cult horror films like Veerana, Purani Haveli and Bandh Darwaza, Ramsay passed away in Mumbai at the age of 77. The Ramsay Brothers ruled the horror genre with low-budget horror films, in which erotica and spook were displayed in equal measure. Tulsi was the son of F.U. Ramsay and was one of seven brothers of his family. He was the guiding force behind the horror genre and his films generated large revenue in comparison to the shoestring budgets the films were made on.
Geetanjali Khanna-December 16
[caption id="attachment_183062" align="aligncenter" width="745"]
Akshaye Khanna and Geetanjali Khanna[/caption]
Late actor Vinod Khanna’s first wife Geetanjali Khanna, passed away at 70 years. She expired at her Alibaug residence, where she had complained of uneasiness. Geetanjali and Vinod were married in 1971 and got divorced in 1985. She is survived by her actor sons Rahul and Akshaye Khanna.
The list of these well-liked faces of Bollywood will remain in our memory – may their souls rest in peace…
