Reema Lagoo passes away at 59, had played Salman’s mother in MPK at 31
The tragic death of Reema Lagoo at 59 reminds one that she was just 31 in Maine Pyar Kiya.
Reema Lagoo, known for playing the quintessential doting and cool mother of Bollywood heroes, especially Salman Khan, passed away today due a massive cardiac arrest at the age of 59.
Reema had played many supporting roles in Hindi and Marathi cinema, and was also a veteran of the Marathi stage for nearly four decades. She played a lead role in the Marathi serial Tuza Maza Jamena, as well as in iconic comedy serials like Shriman Shrimati and Tu Tu Main Main. But she is best known for playing the leading character's mother in hit Hindi movies like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Kal Ho Naa Ho, among others.
It is interesting to note that Reema was just 31, a mere eight years older than Salman Khan, when she played the role of his mother in the cult movie Maine Pyar Kiya. It is trivia like this that shines the spotlight on the innate sexism in the entertainment industry, where the leading actors keep playing the same kind of roles while the women they romance grow creepily younger and younger.
On the brighter side, things are now changing, with actors like Sridevi, Madhuri, and Kajol being able to bag roles of substance in their forties and fifties. But Reema’s death is a reminder of the times when women actors had to hide their age and marital status or compromise on their career.
Also, we just observed Mother’s Day on the 14th, and this should be a reminder that, along with the cards and wishes, the focus is also on the health of our mothers. Indian women tend to take their fitness lightly, but the 50s are a crucial stage, when women usually go through menopause. Regular health check-ups, a healthy diet, and exercise should be undertaken without fail.
