Veteran Marathi actor Ramesh Deo passes away aged 93

Veteran actor Ramesh Deo, known for films like "Anand" and "Aap Ki Kasam" in Hindi cinema and his extensive work in the Marathi film industry, died on Wednesday following a heart attack, his filmmaker son Abhinay Deo said. He was 93.

The actor was known for his unassuming screen presence, playing varied roles -- from friendly doctor, menacing villain to a loveable family friend.

Ramesh Deo brought on screen with him his affable trademark moustache and smile, which would either charm the audience or instill fear, depending on the role he played.

In the mid 60s, he turned towards Hindi cinema. He largely appeared as a character actor playing both positive and negative parts, including "Aarti", Anand", "Aap Ki Kasam", "Mere Apne", "Jeevan Mrityu", "Saraswatichandra", "Teen Bahuraniyan", "Khilona", "Ghayal Once Again", "Jolly LLB", among others.

The actor straddled several movie eras with ease, from Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna to Amitabh Bachchan.

In filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1971 classic "Anand", Ramesh Deo played Dr Prakash Kulkarni, featuring alongside his actor wife Seema Deo. The couple played on-screen pair in the film.

Ramesh Deo was also a TV veteran, having featured in over 30 Marathi dramas. As an artiste, Deo wasn't limited to just acting as he also produced feature films, turned a director, backed TV serials and over 250 ad films.

Born in Amravati, Maharashtra, Ramesh Deo, made his debut in a cameo appearance in the 1951 Marathi film "Paatlaachi Por".

His first fulfledged role came in the Marathi movie "Andhala Magto Ek Dola" (1956), directed by Raja Paranjape.

Though his work eventually slowed down in the 90s, he even went on to work with new age stars in films like "Jolly LLB" with Akshay Kumar and Sunny Deol starrer "Ghayal Once Again", which marked his last big screen appearance in 2016.

He is survived by wife and veteran actor Seema Deo and two sons -- Ajinkya Deo, a Marathi actor, and Abhinay Deo, film director, best known for "Delhi Belly".

Published on: Thursday, February 03, 2022, 12:02 AM IST