Veteran Actress Vatsala Deshmukh Passes Away At 92

Vatsala Deshmukh, the veteran Marathi actress who is best known for her versatility on-screen, passed away. As per the reports, the 92-year-old breathed her last on March 12, Saturday due to age-related complications. Vatsala Deshmukh was the mother of the renowned Marathi actress Ranjana Deshmukh, who passed away in March 2000.

"The departure of Harunnari actresses like Vatsala Deshmukh has created a huge void in the film industry and a heartfelt tribute on behalf of Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena," wrote MNS Chitrapat Sena President Ameya Khopkar, who mourned the demise of the legendary actress on his official social media handles.

Vatsala Deshmukh made her debut in cinema with the 1956-released Hindi film Toofan Aur Deeya, as a dancer. She later appeared in the popular film Navrang, which was directed by her brother-in-law, the veteran filmmaker V Shantharam. In a career that spanned over 4 decades, Vatsala Deshmukh has played a large variety of roles including the supporting, comic, and antagonist characters.

The veteran actress was the daughter of Sridharpant Deshmukh, who was a theatre artist who worked with Bapurao Pendharkar's Lalith Kaladhar's company. He had played major roles in some of the most prominent plays of that time. After shifting his base to Mumbai, Sridharpant Deshmukh had acted in a few films as well.

Vatsala Deshmukh's only daughter Ranjana Deshmukh was one of the leading actresses of Marathi Cinema in the 1970s and 80s. However, her career came to an abrupt end after she met with a major accident in 1987. Ranjana passed away in 2000 at the age of 45, following a massive heart attack.