Reema Lagoo, one of Bollywood's most favourite mothers on screen, will be missed
Just four days after we eulogised mothers for their love, sacrifice and the emotional availability (whenever we needed it the most) on Mother's Day, Bollywood has lost its favourite mom Reema Lagoo. The veteran actor died of a cardiac arrest on early Thursday (May 18) in Mumbai. She was 59.
Being a mother can be a real hard slog in India, especially when you have to play that role all your life. Not just in real life, but reel as well.
Although Nirupa Roy was the original favourite mother of Bollywood, it's Lagoo who gave a new definition to motherhood in films - the cool mom, who is not just the keeper of her children's conscience but the ultimate, friend, philosopher and guide.
Bollywood, in its long, rich history, though had largely failed the mothers in portraying their real importance in our lives. Mom characters in our films have been mostly just that - filmi - kept confined to teary reunions and their struggle over sewing machines while bringing up their children as single/widowed/abandoned women.
They have been restricted to the definition of "ideal motherhood", as opposed to a mother's real identity of being a women - stuck in the daily drudgery of life, only to be rewarded for their struggle once their children attain hero-hood.
This is where Reema Lagoo brought a whiff of fresh air by being the cool mom - your best friend at home whom you need by your side in all those small moments of your struggle.
She played a mom to all of us in hit cinematic ventures such as Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Hum Saath-Saath Hain, Maine Pyar Kiya and Kal Ho Naa Ho, to name a few. She also played the iconic mother-in-law in TV serial Tu Tu Main Main besides becoming a "household name" with her role in Shrimaan Shrimati.
Lagoo has played mother to some of the biggest stars in the industry, starting with Juhi Chawla (she played her mother's role in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak), Salman Khan (Maine Pyar Kiya), Akshay Kumar (Jai Kishan), Sridevi (Gumrah), Madhuri Dixit (Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!) and Shah Rukh Khan (Kal Ho Naa Ho).
The fact that most of her on-screen children were her contemporaries with little age difference in itself tells a story of Lagoo's age-defying roles (in the reverse order). She even starred in Vaastav as Sanjay Dutt's mother (Dutt is 57 now).
But Lagoo was not just about cool, modern-day moms. Within the limitations provided by a hero-centric Bollywood, Lagoo painted the picture of a mother who could be that real go-to friend to her children and if needed the one who doesn't hesitate to call out their wrongdoings.
In Vaastav, she stunned her audience by killing her own son to put an end to his crimes - an emotionally tough decision which till date seems a little unrealistic in an India where mothers are known for hiding (well-meaningly) the mistakes of her children.
Born as Gurinder Bhadbhade on February 3, 1958, Lagoo will be remembered for giving a new definition to mother's role in Bollywood - one who is not just strict and loving, but a fun-to-be with person as well.
Tributes from the film industry and others poured in on Twitter: