Veteran actress Sulochana cremated with state honours

Veteran actress Sulochana Latkar, known for her innumerable mother roles in Hindi and Marathi cinema, was cremated with state honours at the Shivaji Park crematorium here on Monday.

The 94-year-old actor died on Sunday due to prolonged illness at a hospital here.

Sulochana's daughter Kanchan Ghanekar performed the last rites.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, actor Jackie Shroff, and actor Sachin Pilgaonkar paid their last respects to the actor at her residence in Prabhadevi.

"The cremation was performed between 5:30 to 5:45 pm with state honours. It was held in the presence of family, colleagues, and friends like Sonali Kulkarni, Sanjay Manjrekar, Mahesh Kothari, and Sachin Pilgaonkar among others," her grandson-in-law Parag Ajgavkar told PTI.

Sulochana started her career in the 1940s and went on to feature in over 250 films in a six-decade-long journey in the movies.

Some of Sulochana’s notable films are Sasurvas, Vahinichya Bangdya, and Dhakti Jau in Marathi and Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Gora Aur Kala, Devar, Talaash, and Azaad in Hindi.

The actor largely played the on-screen mother in the Bollywood films of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, almost invariably dressed in a white saree. She worked with all the lead stars of the era, including Sunil Dutt, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Dilip Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan.

The Hindi blockbuster hits she starred in are Heera, Reshma Aur Shera, Jaani Dushman, Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai, Jhonny Mera Naam, Kati Patang, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Prem Nagar, and “Bhola Bhala”.

She is survived by her daughter Kanchan Ghanekar.