The Grand Old Lady of Bollywood

Zohra sehgal, the Indian actor  took her last breath in Max hospital New Delhi on 11th July 2014 at the age of 102. It is indeed a colossal loss for the industry and many actors paid homage on social networking sites.

“Zohra Sehgal passes away at 102 yrs…What a journey and what an immensely lovable co-star! Prayer for her blessed soul!,” actor Amitabh Bachchan tweeted.

Madhur Bhandarkar: Sad to hear about Zohra Sehgal’s demise…legend in herself…full of life. Inspiration for many. RIP.

Priyanka Chopra: 102 n a legacy that will always be a part of Indian cinema. It was an honour to know #ZohraSehgal and to b a part of films while she was. RIP.

She started her career as lead dancer in Uday Shankar’s ballad in 1935 and was a theatre actor in mid 1940 until 50s. When her husband passed away in1959, she went to London, bagged her first role in British series The Rescue Of Pluffles in 1964, and got her first break in the courtesans Bombay by James Ivory in 1982 under Merchant Ivory Production. She returned to India in her 80s and irrespective of her old age, she became active in Hindi films. In her case, she really testifies that if a person is bursting with vigor and zest, then age is just a number!

The most appropriate way to bestow tribute to her greatness is by reminiscing her small but unforgettable portrayals in films and television.

The Jewel in the Crown (1984) is a British television serial about the final days of the British Raj in India during World War II, based upon the Raj Quartet novels by Paul Scott in which sehgal plays Lady Chatterjee, a proud Rajput noblewoman, who is the widow of Sir Nello Chatterjee, a Bengali industrialist knighted for his founding of Mayapore Technical College, and a leader of Indian society in Mayapore.

The prodigious choreographer played the grandmother role in Mani Ratnams film Dil Se that released in 1998. Some peoples grace and elegance are life lasting .It is hard to forget her appearance in the song ‘jiya jale’ where she was also doing few steps with such poise.

In Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam she played the role of ‘natkhat nani’. Her lively and fun loving character still holds a strong impression. Her distinctive and peculiar Gujarati mannerism and rambling are still etched in our mind.

Of all these roles,  Sehgal’s darling character was the dabang daadi she played in the Govinda film, Chalo Ishq Ladaye (2002). In it, not only did she get to slap Govinda numerous times, she also got to ride a bike and shoot bad guys. Though, she had a small role but she is the most memorable one in that movie, simply adorable.

However, she was always seen playing small roles in most of her movies but she used to bring life in every character. With her vitality and charm, she made those unsubstantiated roles valuable and worthwhile. Especially her granny roles that had constantly been an X factor for the movies. She has such a delightful face that it was always a treat to watch her on screen. In the manner she has brightented the world with her smile, I hope that in the same way she will cheer up the heaven as well.

Deeti Gupta

No I am not reticent it just I am little out of time anyways I feel it's very difficult to for me to describe myself. Initially you can find me diffident and laconic but gradually you will realize that more or less I am like that only (lol).

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