Himesh Mankad and Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 18, 2019)

Veteran actor Shriram Lagoo, who passed away on Tuesday night, featured in over 100 Hindi and Marathi films and over 40 plays in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati. Mahesh Bhatt, who knew the late actor through mutual friends in theatre, told Mirror, “He was a great icon of Marathi theatre and cinema; we also saw him in Hindi films. He was a refined man. They don’t make men with that kind of dignified stance anymore. He would stand by the causes he believed. V Shantaram ji’s film, Pinjara (1972), which also featured Nilu Phule, comes to mind. His portrayal of a person, who falls in love and destroys himself completely, was staggering.”

Suniel Shetty added, “He was an institution in himself; a stalwart. One of the kindest and the gentlest actors. He was like a father/grandfather figure to everyone on a film set, right from the spot boy to the actors.”

Shatrughan Sinha, who was Lagoo’s co-star in films like Samay Ki Dhaara and Bad Aur Badnaam, among others, described him as a “great actor and a great human being”. “A thorough professional, he maintained his composure and dignity at work. Though he was a junior to us in films, we all respected him and considered him our senior, someone we could learn from, be it his professionalism, his punctuality, the way he conducted himself or the way he treated others. I’d say, woh jitney kareeb they, utne door bhi they as he would also be a little detached. He lived his life with dignity. He was a very down-to-earth person and would sometimes remind us of the great actor, Motilal, with his grace and dignity. He loved Pune and lived there. He was a proper Puneite in the true sense of the word. Of course, he also did great work in theatre. I’d call him a multidimensional personality. My prayers for the family,” Sinha said.

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 18, 2019)

Film and theatre great Shriram Lagoo — whose filmography scintillates with prolific Marathi and Hindi titles — breathed his last at his residence in Pune last night. He was 92 years old. Lagoo was afflicted with Parkinson’s disease since last few years. Lagoo was born in Satara on November 16, 1927. He turned to acting in 1972 and worked in over 100 movies and plays. Remembered as ‘Natsamrat’, after he played the protagonist in the play of the same name written by Kusumagraj, his career is embossed with such titles, setting a high bar for generations to come.

Lagoo went on to play prolific roles like that of Surya Pahilela Manus based on Socrates and made his presence felt in films like Saamna, Sinhasan and Pinjara. He played the character of Gopal Krishna Gokhale in Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi.

Lagoo was a rationalist and worked with Narendra Dabholkar. A proclaimed atheist, he has supported Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti and wrote essays titled ‘It is time to retire God’. Lagoo is remembered by his contemporaries for his unwavering persona.

Noted playwright Satish Alekar said, “He always supported us during crucial times. His would take a clear stand on many issues — and would often ensure that we got to perform even the controversial plays.”

In his twilight years, as Parkinson’s firmed its grip on his health, he had to stay away from the limelight. This year, he even had to skip the Tanveer Sanman programme — an award that Lagoo and his wife had started in the memory of their late son Tanveer.

On Tuesday, he returned home in Karve Nagar after an evening outing on his wheelchair. After he had his dinner, he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “My tributes to the all-time great artiste Shriram Lagoo. We lost a versatile personality. He was a unique theatre actor, who dominated silver screen and created an impact. He was a social activist as well.”

Cultural minister of Maharashtra Subhash Desai said, “We have lost a person who took Marathi theatre and acting to new heights.”

Lagoo is survived by his wife and son. His last rites will be performed on Thursday after his son arrives from the US.

Playwright Ramu Ramanathan said: “Dr Lagoo was a true professional. One example of that was how in a single day, he would perform the lead roles of Natsamrat in the morning, Himalaychi Savli in the afternoon, and Gidhadhe in the night. It is an extraordinary testimony to his stamina and mental alertness.”

Actor Om Katare said he was in awe of Lagoo. “I have watched Natsamrat though I’m not fluent in Marathi. His acting left me speechless,” Katare said.

Inputs: Reema Gehi

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 28, 2017)

It was a washerman who forged the connection by inadvertently exchanging their laundered shirts. Dev Anand and Guru Dutt turned up at a Pune studio wearing each other’s shirts and instantly gravitated towards each other, laughing over their dhobi’s mistake. One was the debutante hero of Prabhat’s Hum Ek Hain and the other, an assistant director-choreographer. During the shoot, the two starry-eyed strugglers quickly entered into a pact — if Dev produced a film, he’d take Guru Dutt as the director, and the latter promised to cast him as the hero in his directorial.

Dev saab kept his word and after the debacles of Afsar and Aandhiyan, launched his friend as the director of Navketan’s Baazi in 1951, which turned out to be a big break not just for the duo, but also for its lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi, composer S D Burman, comedian Johnny Walker and actresses Geeta Bali and Kalpana Kartik. Dev went on to marry Kalpana while Guru Dutt tied the knot with singer Geeta Dutt, whom he’d met while recording of the song, “Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer Bana De.”

“That song brought Guru Dutt and Geeta together, but it also created some friction between S D Burman and Sahir, who was upset that his philosophical number had been turned into a peppy track,” reveals Mohan Churiwala, a close associate of Dev Anand.

Despite the behind-the-scenes friction, Baazi went on to bust the box office and Guru Dutt started a film titled Baaz. Forgetting his promise to his friend, he cast himself in the lead opposite Geeta Bali, but couldn’t replicate the success of Baazi. “Even though he claimed he wanted to be a director, Guru Dutt secretly aspired to be an actor too. Even in Baazi, he popped up in the first scene, sitting on the footpath watching the villain’s sidekick, Rashid Khan, step out of the car and walk into a club where he makes the acquaintance of a card shark played by Dev saab,” informs Churiwala.

After Baaz, Guru Dutt went on to play a cabbie in Aar Paar, which came in the same year (1954) as Dev saab’s Taxi Driver, followed by Mr & Mrs 55. It was only in ’56 that he cast his friend in CID, which he produced, but was directed by Raj Khosla, who’d come to Mumbai with dreams of becoming a playback singer and gone on to assist Guru Dutt in Baazi on Dev saab’s recommendation. Dutt, however, directed TR Fatehchand’s 1952 crime thriller, Jaal, repeating the Baazi jodi, along with K N Singh.

Churiwala recalls how KN Singh had persuaded Dev saab, a teetotaler, to gulp down a glass or two of Feni on the last day of shooting in Goa, assuring him that it was a local, non-alcoholic drink. The next morning, at around 6.30 am, Dev saab left for Mumbai in his Chevrolet Impala, with Geeta sitting beside him, her sister and his chauffeur at the back. “Dev saab was a little drowsy and hungover from the Feni he had drank and was happy to drive sedately. But Geeta egged him on and he put his foot down on the accelerator and the big car was soon racing down the highway. Then, for a split second he shut his eyes, and the car crashed into a tree. His expensive car was totaled and the steering wheel rammed into his chest, cracking a few ribs. Geeta sustained a few bruises on the head. The villagers rushed him to Pune’s Sassoon Hospital where he was treated by Dr Shriram Lagoo, whom he later signed for films like Lootmaar and Des Pardes,” says Churiwala

Despite the crash, Jaal made the cash counters jingle to the tune of Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar’s chartbuster, “Yeh Raat, Yeh Chandni Phir Kahan, Sun Ja Dil Ki Dastaan.” But the friendship that had begun with rainbow-hued dreams ended with disillusionment, despair and an untimely death. Guru Dutt was a broken man after the debacle of his passion project, Kagaz Ke Phool, and never directed another film. But Churiwala remembers that three days before he passed away, he told Dev saab that he wanted to make a film with him as the hero. Once again he didn’t keep his promise. Their next meeting was in Guru Dutt’s bedroom, as he lay lifeless on the bed. Dev saab outlived his friend by almost five decades. Had he been around, he’d have turned 94 on September 26, and would probably be in the middle of directing a film. For him, dreams didn’t die, and promises were made to be kept.

Milind Soman on whether his character in the J Dey biopic is modelled on Raj Thackeray
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 26, 2015)

"Just before the elections, I want two riots. I'll back the non-Hindus but also target them," these lines delivered by Milind Soman in the trailer of Jaypraad Desai's upcoming crime thriller Nagrik, has YouTube buzzing. According to the grapevine his character is modelled on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. But quiz him on this and Milind guffaws, "Raj lives a minute away from me. He is practically my neighbour." Then, clearing his throat, he adds, "I play a politician yes, and if there is any similarity between Raj and my character it's only because of our schooling, upbringing, a particular political ambition and of course, my look in the film."

Two decades after he first featured in the Alisha Chinai music video, Made In India, the actor has been in the news mostly for his health initiatives. But he's quick to dispel notions that Nagrik, based on the life and death of senior crime reporter Jyotirmoy Dey, is his comeback film.

"Just four months ago, I worked in a Marathi film, Astu, about a retired Sanskrit professor suffering from Alzheimer's who goes missing while travelling with his daughter. But no one talked about the film or wrote about it. But the makers of Nagrik are leaving no stone unturned to promote their film and I've now come to understand how important and difficult publicity is," he admits.

Nagrik marks the comeback of 87-yearold veteran Dr. Shriram Lagoo who plays Godfather-like character. "We have some intense scenes together. He is the silent sort and his character, much like the film, explores how little we really understand Indian politics thanks to the infotainment news channels offer," he points out.

The 49-year-old actor has also been filming with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for his upcoming period-romance, Bajirao Mastani. Quiz him about his villainous role in the magnum opus and Milind twirls on his handlebar moustache, "The rumours that I am playing the 'big villain' are completely incorrect. It's a unique character, that of a fun-loving Maratha warrior. Honestly, in a love story about two lovers how much of a role can a third wheel have?"

Incidentally, it was Milind's Maratha lineage that charmed SLB. "Yes, I am Maratha and the way I look adds to my character in the film," he grins. "But I haven't asked him if that was why he cast me in his film."

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 27, 2015)