Kishori Shahane Vij: Seema tai was more like a mother

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Filmmaker-actor Ramesh Deo considered actor-wife Seema Deo his lucky charm. Apparently, her mogra grabbed his attention when they first met on a train. The couple had a beautiful relationship until Ramesh passed away last year. Born Nalini Saraf, Seema is best known for her performance in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anand (1971). Seema, 81, breathed her last at a private hospital on Thursday morning after a long battle with Alzheimer's and other ailments.

The actor was part of over 80 Marathi and a few Hindi films. But people mainly remember the actor for her motherly roles. Reminiscing about her 35-year association with Seema, dancer-actor Kishori Shahane Vij says that the Deos were the "first family of Marathi cinema" she got to know at the start of her career. "I've known Seema tai since the initial stages of my career. I have acted in their productions too. They were active for a long time and always spread cheer on the set, even in the later years. Despite being such a great actor, Seema tai would do all the grocery shopping herself. I would often bump into her at Sahakari Bhandar in Juhu, and she would say, ‘It is our home, so we only have to do things for it.' She was not too active professionally after marriage but would do select projects; often Ramesh kaka would be there. Makers [often] wanted her to play his wife on screen. Ramesh kaka and Seema tai were respected and loved as a couple," shares Shahane, who has also worked with the Deo sons - Ajinkya and Abhinay.

Rajesh Khanna, Seema and Ramesh Deo in Anand (1971)

While the family was warm and welcoming, Shahane shares that her bond with Seema was different. "Seema tai was more like a mother. I'll always remember her sweet, homely, warm, motherly face. She was always caring. During the making of Jivan Sandhya [2021], she would hold my hand, sit together, and discuss the scene. She was so natural as an actor that I'd never know whether she was speaking her lines or talking to me," she shares, further adding that the late actor taught her an important life lesson earlier on in her career. "Rarely do you get to meet such a warm person from the same profession. When I worked with her on Jeeva Sakha [1992, which also featured Ajinkya], I asked her how she went about her career. She told me, ‘Always listen to your heart. Don't think about the people around you. If something makes you happy, keep doing it. Your happiness will soon spread among others too.' That was an important piece of advice I'll cherish forever."

Kishori Shahane Vij and Aruna Irani

Remembering their camaraderie, yesteryear actor Aruna Irani, who worked with Seema in Sansar (1987), says that the senior actor was "humble, homely, and a multi-tasker. Ramesh and she were so much in love. They were a lovely couple. I met her at a beauty parlour seven years ago, and she was as warm as ever. Seema worked in movies, but her heart was at home. She never got involved with what others were doing but rather focused on her work. She was a great actor - simple and sweet-looking, like the characters she used to play. On the set of Sansar, Seema, Rekha, and I would form a trio and have fun together," shares Irani.

The Deo family

Ramesh Deo: The film and TV actor tied the knot with Seema in 1963. He worked in more than 285 Hindi films, 190 Marathi films, and 30 Marathi dramas with over 200 showings in his career, before passing away last year at the age of 93. His last film was Ghayal Once Again (2016).

Ajinkya Deo: The actor and the eldest son of Ramesh and Seema made his mark in Marathi and Hindi cinema and television. His 1987 film Sarja won the National Film Award, where he played the lead role. His latest outing was the Salman Khan-starrer Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.

Abhinay Deo: While his family has a background in acting, youngest son Abhinay chose to stay behind the scenes. His directorial debut, Delhi Belly (2011), became a cult favourite, which garnered him awards. He also helmed the series 24, starring Anil Kapoor.