Saishree Mohanty, Pune
Renowned actress Seema Deo, celebrated for her unforgettable roles in iconic films like Anand, Koshish, and Kora Kagaz, bid her final farewell on August 24, gracefully bowing out at the age of 83.
In a poignant statement to a news portal, her son, the talented filmmaker Abhinay Deo, shared, “Today, we lost a gem. Mom left us peacefully. She battled Alzheimer’s, yet her spirit remained unyielding.”
Over 80 films were produced during Seema Deo’s remarkable career, which saw her grace the Hindi film industry’s silver screen as well as the bustling Marathi film industry. Her filmography featured classics like Vardakshina and Jagachya Pathivar, both of which attested to her adaptability.
The story of her on-screen magic was intertwined with her real-life love story. Back in 2011, Seema’s husband, the charismatic actor Ramesh Deo, shared their enchanting tale. Their serendipitous encounter in a local train, where the fragrance of mogra adorned her hair, became the inception of a lifelong partnership. Ramesh attributed his significant film role on the very day they met to Seema’s luck. Their love story continued for an awe-inspiring 59 years until Ramesh’s passing in 2022.
Seema’s devotion to her craft was beautifully expressed in her words at an event in Pune in 2017. She humbly acknowledged her guru, Raja Paranjape, as the driving force behind her accomplishments. “Everything I achieved is because of my guru. His rigorous training made acting come naturally to me,” she revealed.
In 2021, Seema received her last performance, though not before appearing in the Marathi movie Jivan Sandhya. Her sons Ajinkya Deo and Abhinay Deo, who unquestionably inherited her enthusiasm for the realm of storytelling, continue to carry on her tradition.
Let’s not just remember Seema Deo for the characters she brought to life on screen as we say goodbye to this cinematic giant, but also for the love tale that mirrored her own incredible journey.