Sulabha Deshpande: Here’s Why Her Departed Soul Will Forever Be Missed In Films & Theatre

While you may have noticed her playing a Dadi/Nani or a mother to several of Bollywood actors in a number of movies, veteran actress Sulabha Deshpande’s contribution to the field of arts is greater than what anybody in the world could imagine. From having that unusual element of letting her expressions speak more than her words, she has on a lot of occasion filled strength to a given character by her acting itself.

Now that she is not going to be around us to make those occasional appearances in films and TV, the work she has done all her life will speak for her worthy contribution. If you thought there was nothing beyond her portrayals of a mother, you should perhaps stand corrected. While her mainstream Bollywood contribution is something that we all know about, here’s what you don’t about her work.

Theatre

Sulabha Deshpande has been a noted theatre artist who has acted, directed, conceptualised plays more than we can think of. In fact she in the late 60’s got so actively involved with theatre, that legends of the industry like Vijay Tendulkar, Vijay Mehta and Satyadev Dubey had all noticed her work to later collaborate.

Just a few years later, she along with her husband Arvind Deshpande founded a new theatre group called Awishkar, which predominantly churned out quality plays year after year.

Marathi Cinema

While we watched her carry popular Hindi films characters, Marathi cinema is where she was more actively involved. Her contribution to the Marathi cinema is immense and she also deserves a special mention for having strengthened the core structure behind it.

Pioneer in Children’s Creative Arts

Right after she co-founded her theatre group, she made a huge statement by extending its children wing named Chandrashala. She even requested Viijay Tendulkar to write a few plays for her group which he graciously obliged. The group is still functional with a lot of children getting the opportunities of showcasing their talent.

A few years later, she herself wore the director’s hat and directed a children’s film titled Raja Rani Ko Chahiye Pasina in 1978.

While we look back at her work and say she was brilliant in films like Bhumika, Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastan and Gaman, her mainstean work has been as amusing. A trace of which we saw in the very recent Gauri Shinde directorial English Vinglish! Wasn’t she just lovely?

Sulabha Deshpande has given more to this industry than what she’s got. The least her departed soul deserves now that she is gone is that recognition. Thank you lady, you have been a great paradigm of devoted contribution to this world of cinema, TV and theatre.