Mumbai (The Indian Express): Sulabha Deshpande, one of the finest actors of Indian theatre and cinema, passed away at her Mumbai residence Saturday after a prolonged illness. The veteran actor, considered to be one of the pioneers of the experimental theatre movement that swept Bombay in the 1970s, was 79. Her funeral will be held at the Dadar crematorium at 5.30 pm on Sunday.
Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal described her as “one of the great figures of Marathi cinema”. According to him, she was equally well-known for her work in Hindi movies as well as in Marathi and Hindi theatre.
“She was a wonderful actor, very disciplined and always a team person. She never had any airs about her and was always helpful to the actors that she worked with. I particularly remember her work in Bhumika (1977),” Benegal said.