Veteran Actor Madhumati Passes Away at 84, Leaving a Legacy

Mumbai, Oct 16 (PTI) Veteran actor and dancer Madhumati, known for her influence in Bollywood during the 1950s and 60s, passed away at the age of 84 at her Juhu residence. According to her close associate, she succumbed to age-related issues on Wednesday morning.

Originally named Hutoxi Reporter, she adopted the name Madhumati after the release of the iconic Dilip Kumar film, "Madhumati". Renowned for her expertise in both Kathak and contemporary Western dance forms, she became a distinguished figure in the Indian film industry.

Chaitanya Padukone, a journalist and close confidant of Madhumati, shared, “She asked her caretaker for water around 6:30 am and requested to be woken up in a couple of hours. When the caretaker checked on her around 8:30-9 am, she had already left us. She had no particular ailment, just the inevitable consequence of age.” Madhumati lived alone with her caretaker and house help, having lost her husband, Deepak Manohar, years ago. They had no children.

Throughout her illustrious career, Madhumati earned the respect of legendary cinematic figures like Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, and Rajkumar. She was deeply involved in charitable activities, often performing for free alongside her husband with Sunil Dutt's Ajanta Arts Cultural Troupe, especially for the jawans at the border.

Besides her accomplishments on the silver screen, she was an esteemed dance guru to Bollywood stars such as Akshay Kumar, Chunky Pandey, Tabu, and Sonam Kapoor, and operated an academy called ‘MAA’ (Madhumati Acting Academy) where she imparted her dance knowledge to numerous students.

Akshay Kumar paid tribute to his "first and forever guru" through a heartfelt Instagram post, expressing, "Everything I know about dance, I learnt at your feet, Madhumati ji. Har ada, har expression mein aapki yaad hamesha saath rahegi. Om Shanti." Similarly, actor Vindu Dara Singh shared his condolences online, acknowledging the impact Madhumati had on his and many others' lives.

Chunky Pandey expressed his deep sorrow, stating, “She was instrumental in my acting career, and like a mother figure. She played a crucial role in shaping my confidence and personality, making me realize my potential.” Pandey recalled the rigorous training sessions with Madhumati, which prepared him for his debut in “Aag Hi Aag”.

Madhumati’s funeral rites were conducted at Oshiwara Electric Crematorium in suburban Mumbai on Wednesday evening.

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