Actress Rita Bhaduri breathed her last in Mumbai today. She was 62 and was suffering from a kidney ailment. After making her film debut five decades ago in 1968, Bhaduri was part of a number of memorable films. Two such were Kundan Shah’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) and David Dhawan’s Hero No 1 (1997).
Veteran actor Tiku Talsania was Bhaduri's co-actor in both these films. He told Cinestaan.com that apart from being a co-artiste, Bhaduri was also a close friend of his family.
“Rita was a fantastic and beautiful person," Talsania said. "Apart from these two films, we were associated off screen. We were very good friends. I remember in Muscat when my wife and I were performing on stage, she was taking care of my son backstage. This is how good a friend she was. I have very good memories of her. It was a different joy to spend time with her.”
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While speaking about her best work, he said, “I was very impressed with her [Gujarati] film Kashino Dikaro (1979). She did a fantastic job. I had seen it long back.”
Talsania was clearly sounding sad. “It’s a sad day," he said. "I am a little upset. It is very sad that she had to go this way. It’s a great loss to the industry. She was a natural actress. She had no airs about her and was a very down-to-earth person. She was full of life and enjoyed life. This is what happens with actors. You are on your own later on.”
Bhaduri also had a strong body of work in television serials. Some of these were Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai, Khichdi, Hasratein, Junoon, Amanat, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka and Kkoi Dil Mein Hai.