A lost photo changed this actress' destiny, was once a Doordarshan anchor, romanced Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, died at 31 due to…, she is…
'There is no age to live, nor to die, life is just a name for shock.' This line is for that evergreen and beautiful actress, who said goodbye to the world at the age of just 31. Her big eyes, radiant face, and serious acting skills still mesmerise the audience. While watching her films, people watch every scene and expression carefully. But do you know that this actress, who became a Bollywood superstar, was once a Doordarshan news anchor, and one of her photos changed her fate?
Born on 17 October 1955 in Mumbai, Smita Patil studied in Marathi medium schools. After completing her studies, she started reading news in Marathi on Mumbai Doordarshan. In her biography 'Smita Patil: A Brief Incandescence', Maithili Rao shared an interesting anecdote.
According to Maithili Rao, Smita's friend Jyotsna Kirpekar used to read news on Mumbai Doordarshan. Her husband Deepak Kirpekar, who was a photographer by profession, often used to take pictures of Smita. One day, Deepak went to the Doordarshan Center with Smita's pictures, where, while entering the centre, the pictures fell on the ground. While handling them, Mumbai Doordarshan director PV Krishnamurthy noticed them. He asked, 'Whose pictures are these?' When Deepak told him about Smita, the director expressed his desire to meet her.
Smita Patil was initially not ready for this work, but after a lot of persuasion, she went to Doordarshan Center. When she was asked to sing in the audition, she sang the national anthem of Bangladesh 'Amar Shonar Bangla'. Her voice impressed the director so much that she was immediately selected for the news anchor. After this, Smita started reading news in Marathi. Her voice was so sweet that even people who did not understand Marathi would turn on the TV and sit to listen to her.
Smita's film journey also started from here. Famous director Shyam Benegal saw her on TV and decided to sign her in his film. Smita made her own identity in parallel cinema with her acting. Smita married actor Raj Babbar who was already married. Their son Prateik Babbar is an actor today and has appeared in films like 'Reservation'. Unfortunately, Smita passed away on 13 December 1986 at the age of just 31, which shocked her fans.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
12 hours ago
- India.com
Marathi Horror Series Andhar Maya Unveils Haunting Trailer Ahead Of Premiere
New Delhi: ZEE5 has unveiled the spine-chilling trailer for Andhar Maya, its first-ever Marathi horror original series, set to premiere on May 30. Set against the eerie and atmospheric backdrop of the Konkan region, the series tells a disturbing tale of a family's return to their ancestral home, only to confront horrors that transcend reason, time, and reality. Directed by National Award-winner Bhimrao Mude and produced by Sharmishtha Raut and Tejas Desai under Ericon Telefilms, Andhar Maya stars the acclaimed Kishor Kadam in a mysterious role that promises to be one of his most emotionally complex performances to date. The series has been penned by Pralhad Kudtarkar (story and dialogues) and Kapil Bhopatkar (screenplay), and promises a deeply immersive horror experience. The story follows the Khatu family as they return to their ancestral wada in Konkan for a final ritual. However, what begins as a traditional homecoming quickly descends into a psychological and supernatural nightmare. As time loops and family members begin to vanish, the house itself seems to awaken with a sinister will—reclaiming its own in terrifying fashion. The narrative blurs the lines between memory and myth, reality and illusion, emotion and dread. V.R. Hema, Chief Channel Officer - Zee Marathi and Business Head - ZEE5 Marathi, remarked on the significance of the series: 'This is just the beginning. With Andhar Maya, ZEE proudly launches its first-ever Marathi Original Horror Series on ZEE5. We are all set to explore the world of OTT with a bold new voice. But pioneering has always been part of our DNA. From launching Maharashtra's first private GEC with Zee Marathi, to revolutionizing cinema with Zee Talkies and Zee Studios, we've consistently shaped the landscape of Marathi entertainment. Now, we carry that legacy forward into the digital age—rooted in our culture, stories, and people. Set against the mystic backdrop of Konkan, Andhar Maya is a gripping blend of folklore, familial bonds, and psychological suspense. It represents our deep commitment to investing in local storytelling and creative talent. We believe this is the start of a powerful new chapter—one that brings the dreams and voices of Maharashtra to every screen, everywhere' Producers Sharmishtha Raut and Tejas Desai added, 'Andhar Maya is a project that's extremely close to our heart. It's a compelling story that blends emotion, suspense, and raw human truth. As producers, it's fulfilling to see a Marathi series take such a significant step like being streamed on a global platform like ZEE5. This milestone not only marks a new beginning for Marathi content on digital platforms but also reinforces our commitment to showcase meaningful, high-quality stories. I'm excited for audiences to experience the world of Andhar Maya.' Director Bhimrao Mude said, "With Andhar Maya, my vision was to craft a world that feels deeply rooted yet disturbingly unfamiliar—a space where emotions, memories, and the supernatural coexist. Launching the trailer feels like opening the first door to that world, and I couldn't be more thrilled to finally share it. This story is as much about the ghosts of the past as it is about the fears we carry within us. The Konkan region, with all its texture and mystique, gave us the perfect canvas to build something visually rich and emotionally layered. I hope viewers find themselves intrigued, moved, and thoroughly spooked—because this is just the beginning of what the show has to offer.' Lead actor Kishor Kadam described his role as deeply moving and psychologically intense: "Playing Gonya in Andhar Maya has been one of the most hauntingly beautiful journeys of my career. He's a man of few words but carries centuries of silence and secrets within him. The trailer offers just a glimpse into the world we've built—but trust me, the real chills begin when the story unfolds. It's not just emotionally rich, it's deeply unsettling, keeping you on edge every second. Working with Bhimrao Mude and such an honest, passionate team made it even more special. This isn't your typical horror—it lingers, it whispers, and it stays with you. I'm genuinely excited to see how audiences respond once they step inside this world with us.' Andhar Maya premieres May 30 exclusively on ZEE5, promising a gripping blend of folklore, psychological tension, and emotional resonance. Step into the shadows—some stories are meant to be heard in whispers.
Mint
15 hours ago
- Mint
'Puranpoli' baklava and 'bombil' tacos amp up Marathi fine dining
For one of his tasting menus in Mumbai, chef Akash Deshpande plates up a piquant dried bombil or Bombay duck over a brioche toast. The dish is served along with bombil mousse shaped like seashells, and prawn papad clipped to resemble the bamboo frames used to dry fish along the coastline. He calls the course 'Bombil", a fish synonymous with the coastal communities of Maharashtra, and the city's food culture. 'My mother grew up in Konkan, and so, when there is no fresh fish or meat, she prepares a sukhat with dried fish," says the chef and co-founder of Luv restaurant while talking about his inspiration. At a time when fine-dining menus evolve with fresh takes on hyperlocal cuisines, the culinary culture of Maharashtra remains confined to a few select dishes. But there's more to Marathi food than vada pav and misal. A new era of chefs is changing the narrative by showcasing the diverse food heritage of the state with bold, progressive formats. Think puranpoli baklava, karvanda Cosmopolitan, and goda masala pizza, that too served in an omakase in Japan. In her cookbook Pangat, A Feast (2019), Mumbai-based author and culinary consultant Saee Koranne-Khandekar deep dives into the food practices of the Marathi community. It began with a Facebook group called 'Angat Pangat" in 2015 when she realised the need to spotlight the traditional cuisines to 'understand them in the context of topography and produce, historical background and migratory patterns, and literature," as she notes in the book. Since then Koranne-Khandekar has collaborated with restaurants in Mumbai and Pune for pop-ups (approx ₹2,500 for a set meal), and attempts to go beyond the banana leaf or thali format, at the same time keep the seasonality, produce and skill in mind. 'Unfortunately, Marathi food is still misinterpreted as the impressions have been primarily shaped by commercial establishments selling thalipeeth or Malwani restaurants, which can be quite textbook-ish," she says. Some of her stellar creations include mutton loncha, a popular meat pickle from Kolhapur that she served with pita as bar bites for a pop-up at Pune's Cobbler & Crew restaurant in 2023; a custardy ghavlyachi kheer crème brûlée that highlights the region's dying craft of hand-rolled pasta at Masque in Mumbai; and dhondas madeleines inspired by a Konkani sweet of summer cucumbers at a catering college event last year. 'The reception has been encouraging. But, I wish the community was open to taking more risks with the iterations," she adds. Deshpande agrees. 'The food is largely perceived as what is served at seafood restaurants. Also because Maharashtrians cook the same food at home, why would they go out and eat it," he says. At Luv, he wants to surprise his diners with ingredients from his mother's kitchen using technique and storytelling. His French culinary training sees him experiment with fanas or jackfruit tucked inside a bao, a tadgola or ice apple dessert, bombil tacos, duck meat glazed with karvanda (summer currants) jus, and a family favourite chicken curry prepared like a roulade. 'I don't want to use foam or caviar as I want my dishes to speak for themselves," he adds. The tasting menus debuted this summer, and will change every season, are priced at ₹3,000 (non-veg) and ₹2,600 (veg), and cater to 10 diners only on Thursdays. The slots are usually sold out a week in advance. At Aragma in Pune, chef Amit Ghorpade is creating flavour bombs inspired by his childhood growing up on a farm in Sangli, often borrowing from his grandmother's recipes, and produce available in the city's century-old vegetable market Mandai. For the tasting menus ( ₹2,200 for lunch; ₹3,200 for dinner), the chef has come up with pastas using everyday legumes such as kulith or horsegram and matki or moth beans. 'My grandmother prepared a porridge of kulith on sick days, and often made a flour out of matki to prepare the traditional flatbread bhakri," he reveals. Both the versions comprise staples integral to the community, for instance, fried methi (fenugreek) leaves as garnish, and sauce/oil made of dill, locally known as shepu, and eaten as a stir-fry in Marathi homes. The pasta idea came from his stints at Italian restaurants — Alto Vino at JW Marriott Pune and Giovanni's Table at Royal Caribbean Cruise. 'And also because chef Massimo Bottura is my idol," he adds. Ghorpade believes modern spins can familiarise diners with the nuances of the cuisine, 'but they should be by someone who understands the context, and the depth of the flavours." In a city like Mumbai, chefs also point out the strong influence of global cuisines, and those from south or north India in the dining scene. 'Marathi cuisine with its home-cooked traditions, is often overshadowed in the realm of progressive Indian fine dining, despite the city being the cultural and economic hub of the state," says chef Pankaj P. Nerurkar, senior chef of HyLo. The Fort restaurant elevates the festival-favourite sweet flatbread puran poli in the form of a baklava. Last year, chef Varun Totlani of Masque took the spice blend goda masala to The Pizza Bar on 38th at Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo as part of an omakase experience. He used it as a base along with karandi loncha, a Marathi-style shrimp pickle, and crab salad. 'The initial thought of the diners was Indian spices could be overpowering, but they came together very well," says Totlani, who seasons potato salli with the masala for a dish of lamb neck pastrami at the cocktail bar Paradox. The sheer expanse of the region provides a dynamic playground for chefs, who are trying to create some sort of an aspirational value for the cuisines. The time for Marathi fine dining may have finally come.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
‘Ramanand Sagar's iconic Ramayan was nearly shelved, slapped with 175 cuts': Varun Badola reveals he was ‘stopped from quoting Ramcharitmanas'
Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan is one of the most watched shows in Indian television history, with its re-runs still airing on the Doordarshan network. While it's now considered to be an evergreen classic, the show was nearly shelved. Actor, director and writer Varun Badola, known for his popular roles on television, sat down for an interview and shared some anecdotes about the television industry. In an appearance on the YouTube show Zindagi with Richa, Badola talked about his time in television, and his transition into OTT. Among the many stories he shared, he was very vocal about the practices of network executives and what all goes into getting a show on air. He revealed how his vision seldom aligned with the makers' and said, 'The first thing we are always told on TV is that the show has to be aspirational. Either I was taught a very different meaning of that word, or I didn't understand the makers.' ALSO READ: Varun Badola answers if Ekta Kapoor ruined Indian television forever, says he spoke to her about it: 'Sunne waalon mein se nahi hai' He gave an example of how too much red tape can be harmful for the business and talked about how the iconic Ramayan series was stuck on a shelf for reasons he never understood. He said, 'I can give you first hand information regarding this, that a show like Ramayan had 175 cuts prepared. Ramanand Sagar himself made those 175 cuts and told me. Yet they did not want to air the show for reasons best known to them.' The actor added that people start walking on eggshells when it comes to stories with religious backdrops, and blamed it on the 'rudimentary and archaic' thinking of people. The type of thinking which led makers of a certain show to stop Badola for quoting the epic Ramcharitmanas. 'I wanted to use a quote from the Ramcharitmanas, and they were completely against it and told me that it wasn't allowed. Their explanations were very weird, and they told me that I could use any one obscure line written by Kabir, but I couldn't use the entire doha,' added Badola. Badola has made a successful transition from daily soap operas to web series on OTT platforms with appearances in shows like Guns and Gulaabs (2023), Your Honour (2020), and Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen (2024). He also starred in Sky Force (2025) alongside Akshay Kumar and debutant Veer Pahariya.
