Veteran actress Ashalata Wabgaonkar passes away due to Covid-19

Veteran actress Ashalata Wabgaonkar passed away on Tuesday morning after a four-day battle with Covid-19 at a private hospital in Satara. She was 79. Popularly known as Ashalata, the Goa-born actress had reportedly contracted the infection during the shooting of a Marathi TV show. According to reports, 20 other crew members of the show have also tested positive for coronavirus. Ashalata is survived by a son and her last rites will be performed in Satara.

Ashalata had acted in over 100 Hindi and Marathi films. She starred as Amitabh Bachchan’s step-mother in Zanjeer, and appeared in films like Woh Saat Din, Namak Halaal and Yaadon Ki Kasam. Actress Renuka Shahane mourned the demise of Ashalata and tweeted in Marathi, which translates to, “Today has been a frustrating day. Covid took a very beautiful life. Ashalata Tai merged into infinity. Extremely kind, loving, sensitive, great artiste. Peace be upon the soul of Ashalata Tai, who has always blessed me by saying “Baby”. A heartfelt tribute.”