Shashi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Om Puri, Reema Lagoo - Bollywood Gems We Lost In 2017

As 2017 comes to an end, we take a look at some of the Bollywood personalities who left us in the year gone by. Mind you, they were all a gem.

Shashi Kapoor

Shashi Kapoor

The handsome and charismatic Shashi Kapoor passed away on December 4 leaving a void in the hearts of every Indian. He was 79. He was suffering from a prolonged illness. He was truly one of the rare gems of the film industry who was a part of many evergreen films that have left footprints in the sands of time. He shall always be remembered for films like Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Deewar (1975), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Suhaag (1979), Namak Halaal (1982) and many more.

Vinod Khanna

Vinod Khanna

Vinod Khanna was battling advanced bladder cancer since quite sometime and he passed away on April 28 at the age of 70. He was admitted to a hospital with complications arising from severe dehydration. Vinod was regaled as one of the most handsome actors of the Hindi film industry. Khanna went on to star in over 141 films, and was considered to be the only one in the 1970s-1980s who was as popular as Amitabh Bachchan. Some of his most memorable performances include Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), Hera Pheri (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Qurbani (1980), Dayavan (1988), Dabangg (2010) and Dilwale (2015).

Om Puri

Om Puri

Om Puri, was found dead in his Mumbai apartment after suffering a severe heart attack on January 6. The two-time National Award winner and two-time Filmfare Award winner was 66. His driver alarmed the neighbours after his doorbell went unanswered on January 6. The Hollywood industry remembered the star at the Oscars 2017. That was definitely a huge achievement as no other Indian has ever been given such respect at the Oscars. Om will always be remembered for films like Ardh Satya (1983), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Aakrosh (1980), Mirch Masala (1987) and many others.

Neeraj Vora

Neeraj Vora

Actor and filmmaker, Neeraj Vora, who was critically ill since a long time, took his last breath in the wee hours of morning of December 14. He was admitted in Criti Care Hospital, Juhu. Last year, the filmmaker suffered a massive brain stroke after which his health kept deteriorating with time. Neeraj, who has acted in several films such as Rangeela (1995), Mann (1999) and Bol Bachchan (2012) among others and helmed Khiladi 420 (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006), was admitted to a leading Delhi hospital in October last year and was battling for life since then.

Reema Lagoo

Reema Lagoo

Reema Lagoo lent a dash of glamour to Hindi films' concept of motherhood. When she became the mother, she wasn't the over-the-top loud-mouthed mom people were accustomed to before. The mother Reema played was now sober, yet sleek --- and all her 'maa' roles resonated this fact. She breathed her last at a city hospital following a cardiac arrest on May 18, at the age of 58. The news of her sudden demise came as a shock to the entire entertainment fraternity, her fans and well-wishers alike. She will always be remembered for films like Maine Pyaar Kiya (1989), Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Vaastav (1999), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and many others.

Inder Kumar

Inder Kumar

Inder Kumar passed away at his residence in Mumbai on the morning of July 28. The actor suffered a fatal heart attack. He was close to Salman Khan and has acted alongside him in films like Wanted (2009), Tumko Naa Bhul Paayenge (2002), Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaye (2000), etc. He also became a popular face on the small screen for playing Mihir Virani in the famous TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

Ram Mukherjee

Ram Mukherji

Rani Mukerji’s father, filmmaker Ram Mukherjee passed away on October 22. He helmed films like Hum Hindustani (1960) which starred Sunil Dutt, Joy Mukherjee and Asha Parekh in lead roles, and the Dilip Kumar-Vyjayanthimala starrer Leader (1964). He also produced Rani’s debut Hindi film Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat (1997). He also directed and produced the actor’s Bengali debut movie Biyer Phool (1996), which also starred Prosenjit Chatterjee. Apart from his film contributions, Ram will always be remembered as one of the founders of Mumbai’s famous Filmalaya Studios.

Lekh Tandon

Lekh Tandon

Lekh Tandon who directed the iconic film Amrapali, passed away on October 15 at the age of 88. Tandon breathed his last at his Powai residence, in presence of his family. Tandon was bed-ridden for the last five to six months. Tandon directed many Bollywood stalwarts like Shammi Kapoor, Rajender Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi, Rekha, Rajesh Khanna to name a few. His film Amrapali (1966), featuring Sunil Dutt and Vyjayanthimala, was selected as Indian entry for the best foreign language film at 39th Academy Awards. He also bagged Filmfare Best Screenplay Award for his movie Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye, along with Vrajendra Gaur and Madhusudan Kalekar in 1978. He directed his first television serial Dil Dariya in 1988 through which he was also credited for discovering Shah Rukh Khan. Tandon also acted in films like Swades (2004), Rang De Basanti (2006), Chennai Express (2013) and many more.

Sitaram Panchal

Sitaram Panchal

Sitaram Panchal, who was struggling with lung and kidney cancer for the past three years, finally lost the battle and breathed his last on August 10. Sitaram was bed-ridden for more than 10 months and was facing the worst crisis of his life. He had also sought help from fans and well-wishers through a Facebook post. Anil Kapoor, Ashwini Chaudhary, Naveen Prabhakar and many other Bollywood and television actors extended their help towards the actor and also asked others to help him. Sitaram will always be remembered for films like Jolly LLB 2 (2017), Paan Singh Tomar (2012), Peepli Live (2010), The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002), Bandit Queen (1994) and many more.

May their soul rest in peace.


Image Source : Youtube/jollyllb2/tumkonabhulpaenge