When ‘late’ legendary actor Ramesh Deo had shared his heart-rending ‘last wish’…

Veteran actor Ramesh Deo ( 93 years ) breathed his last on Wednesday, Feb 2nd..Perhaps, just the way he was a ‘unique’ versatile actor, he seems to have exited this world on a ‘unique’ date 02-02-2022 ! - Chaitanya Padukone

Ramesh Deo with wife Seema Deo at the Red Carpet of _Ajeenkya DY Patil University Filmfare Awards shown to user

The senior actor was rushed to KD Ambani Hospital (Andheri West)where he passed away due to a massive cardiac arrest, Although Ramesh-ji was quite active and agile he apparently had heart complications and had also undergone a bypass surgery, according to family members..

The ‘late’ senior-most actor is survived by his wife-popular famous actress Seema Deo and two eminent sons - Ajinkya Deo and Abhinay Deo.

As is known Abhinay has directed landmark Hindi movies like ‘Delhi Belly’ and ‘Blackmail’. On the other hand, Ajinkya is a popular actor in Hindi and Marathi cinema.

In a recent electronic ( Marathi Channel-TV-9 network ) media interview, to mark his 53rd wedding anniversary, Ramesh cuddling a soft Valentine-heart-shaped cushion, had candidly declared in Marathi that his “last and only wish was to breathe his last, lying on the lap of his beloved wife Seema “.

Following which, sensitive wife Seema was moved to tears and was speechless with emotions. even as Ramesh justified and repeated his ardent wish.

Whether this was some sort of a ‘premonition’, we leave it you, dear Readers for your judgement.

While the entire film fraternity was in grief over actor-director-producer Ramesh Deo’s passing away, heartfelt tributes poured in from his colleagues and protégées, his discoveries which include actor-directors Mahesh Manjrekar and Ashutosh Gowariker.

A versatile natural actor who excelled in both positive roles ( as the friendly Doctor in ‘Anand’) or as nasty villainish characters in ‘Saraswati Chandra’ and ‘Khilona’ and of course in ‘Mere Apne’ where he tries to hoodwink Meena Kumari’s vulnerable widowed character.

As a senior film-journalist, I recall having met Ramesh-jee a couple of times at film-events.

Remember having mentioned to him that it was so wonderful and endearing to see him being paired on-screen opposite his own wife Seema-jee in so many movies, including the classic film ‘Anand’.

In a cheerful mood, he reacted by saying, “Initially it was a bit awkward for both of us to step into our screen-characters, as we were conscious of our real-life husband-wife status.

But then being theatre –drama actors, we managed to overcome that hitch and enjoyed sharing the same-frame.

What was overwhelming for us, that audiences loved our screen-jodi and always cherished our pairing in both Marathi and Hindi movies.

It was also a fringe bonus benefit that we could spend ‘quality-time together’ on the sets,” Deo-Sir had said.

Senior films and ad-films director Uday Shankar Pani who had worked with the veteran actor, recalls Ramesh-jee as “a dignified fit and active gentleman of a professional actor as also friendly, co-operative, altruistic by nature, In his (Andheri West) neighborhood area where he resided, his initiative efforts had contributed to a wonderful new children’s park being opened,” shares Uday. .