RIP Reema Lagoo: Mahesh Bhatt calls her an extraordinary actor, an even better human being

Film fraternity woke up to the sad news of veteran actor Reema Lagoo’s death on Thursday morning. The 59-year-old, who played mother to several leading stars in films, in her career spanning almost four decades, died of a cardiac arrest in Mumbai. Besides films, Reema also worked in some iconic TV shows — the most recent being Naamkarann, which is inspired by the 1998 film Zakhm, based on filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s life.

“All I can say is that she was an extraordinary actor, undoubtedly, but she was an even better human being,” says Bhatt, who has conceptualized the show.

We said goodbye to one another after making a promise to meet soon. That never happened . We think we have time.We don't!!Goodbye Reemaji.

— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) May 18, 2017

Bhatt reveals that he was to meet Reema on the sets of the show, but he regrets that it couldn’t happen. “It’s ironic that the last exchange we had was a few days ago, when I sent her a TED talk of a gentleman who survived a plane crash and was imploring —please, you are not going to be here forever, so do whatever you want to do with your loved ones, now. After watching that, she sent me a message, saying, ‘thank you for sending me this chat…this talk… It’s timely and much needed.’ This is what she wrote back,” shares Bhatt, adding that he was busy with the release of his film, so he couldn’t meet Reema on the sets, as he used to, often. “She [Reema] was looking forward to meeting me, but that did not happen. We think we have time but the fact is we don’t. It is indeed tragic that she is no more,” says Bhatt.

Recalling his professional association with the actor, Bhatt adds, “I bow down to the memory of Reema Lagoo who began her journey with me through Aashiqui (1990) where she played an unwed, a single mother to Rahul Roy. Then she played an extraordinary role in Naajayaz (1995) with Naseeruddin Shah. Then she did a role in Gumrah (1993), where she played Sridevi’s mother. And then she did Naamkaran with me.”

Thanking the actor for adding so much to his films, Bhatt signs off, saying, “She was the heartbeat who would carry a film and a show on her shoulder. I would express my deep gratitude to her for having touched my life.”