Bollywood mourns its fallen stars

The year 2017 took away many talented souls from the world of Hindi cinema,
leaving behind a void that can’t be filled with just any other face.

Shashi Kapoor

The youngest son of Prithvi Raj Kapoor and a legendary Bollywood actor, Shashi Kapoor breathed his last on December 4 after a prolonged illness. The actor also played a key role in helming Prithvi Theatre in Juhu. So, when news spread about the actor having breathed his last on a Monday evening, theatre lovers and artistes couldn’t come to terms with it.

Easily one of the pleasing screen personalities, his co-stars remembered him as someone who defined the word gentleman both on and off screen. Even as he was a mainstay in Bollywood films, he took advantage of his stardom to also dish out challenging independent films. And that is something that the industry will always be indebted to him for.

Om Puri
Regarded as one of the top-notch actors in the industry, Om Puri breathed his last on January 6, after suffering a massive heart attack. His sudden demise at the age of 66 left the nation in sorrow, with many even questioning the cause of his death.

If reports are to be believed, the actor had spoken about his death just a month prior to the incident. A graduate of Film and Television Institute of India, Om was known for his roles in Ardh Satya and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron to name a few. A highly versatile actor, he starred in numerous Hollywood films too, and won National awards for Arohan and Ardh Satya. As his illustrious career came to an end with Tubelight, Bollywood mourned one of its finest artistes.

Tom Alter
Best known for his role in Zabaan Sambhalke, the American-origin actor had a thriving career in both the theatre and film spaces. Tom succumbed to skin cancer on September 29, after putting up a brave fight.

A graduate of Film and Television Institute of India he acted in over 300 films. He worked with filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Shatranj Ke Khilari and is also known for his role in Kranti, Naukri, Kudrat, and Sardar. In 1977, he formed a theatre group called Motley Productions, along with actor Naseeruddin Shah and Benjamin Gilani.

Vinod Khanna
Counted among the few extremely good-looking men of Hindi cinema, Vinod Khanna was the quintessential actor, who aspired to be the conventional bad guy. Eventually, he went on to become one of the most sought after leading men of the 1970s.

In April, a photo of the extremely aged actor went viral and worried his loyal fans. Their worst fears came true when he breathed his last on April 27, at the age of 70, after fighting a battle with advanced bladder cancer. The Amar Akbar Anthony actor will always be remembered for his ruggedness and suave good looks.

Kundan Shah
The prolific director- writer is best known for his dark comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. The film went on to give Bollywood two important actors — Om and Naseeruddin. The filmmaker died at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack in October. Also a  graduate from Film and Television Institute of India, Kundan’s film depicted the miserable underdog, who tried to get through life. Maybe this is why Jaane… went on to become one of the most acknowledged satirical comedy of the time.

Neeraj Vora
An all rounder, right from acting to the direction, he made his presence felt everywhere. It was his work as a writer for Rangeela that made him a known name in the industry. Neeraj was working on Hera Pheri 3 when he suffered a stroke last year and was in a coma till he breathed his last on December 14.

Reema Lagoo
Marathi and Bollywood actress, Reema Lagoo, passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest in May. Popular for her the role of a taunting saas in Tu Tu Main Main, which she essayed with the necessary sass, it was her role as Sanjay Dutt’s mother in Vaastav that was critically acclaimed.