Today morning, we got the sad news that veteran film and TV actress Rita Bhaduri is no more. The lady passed away due to kidney failure. The news has sent the industry into mourning. Bollywood Life got in touch with some of her co-stars to know more about the woman who loved acting and being on sets. Juhi Parmar who worked with her for a long time in the blockbuster TV show Kumkum said, “I have so many memories with her. I was so emotionally attached to her. It is heartbreaking for the entire Kumkum family and me to know that she is no more. She loved us dearly and would pamper us with good food. I remember in my initial days, I did not have a good cook, she would daily get food for me on the sets. In fact, she would make sure that I got home-made food for my dinner as well. She is my Annapurna. It is devastating to know that my Rita Maa is no more. The saddest part is we did not speak in the past few months. I had no idea she was so unwell. Today, I am out of town and cannot make it for her final rites. I would not have missed it for anything if I was in Mumbai. My absence is making me feel pathetic.” (Also Read: Veteran actress Rita Bhaduri no more, 5 shows where she steals fan’s hearts)

Actress Ankita Bhargava who was on the show Ekk Nayi Pehchaan remembers her as a simple lady who loved to be on the sets. She told us, “I shared my make-up room with Rita Ji. At her age, she was most active though she wasn’t in the best of health. I don’t remember seeing her lying down on the bed in between scenes. She would never rest. On the contrary, she was the first person on the sets ready with her makeup and dialogues. She was extremely helpful personally and professionally. I fondly recollect the chundda and karele ki bhaji. It feels weird to talk about her in the past tense. She was a beautiful person who only wanted to keep on working till the end. This is something we can all learn from them. She was soft-spoken and unassuming. Rita Ji could wait endlessly on the sets. She never lost her cool even if others were late. The set was her karmabhoomi. Come rain or thunder, she did reach on time in her SUV. She deserved a lot more in life. I hope she finds happiness wherever she is.” (Also Read: Rita Bhaduri was the prettiest girl in our batch in FTII Says Zarina Wahab, Here are the details)

TV actress Bhumika Gurung who last worked with her on Nimki Mukhiya posted two heartfelt notes on Instagram to pay a tribute to her onscreen Daadi.

Fasane bane toh sunegee yeh mehfil Sunegee yeh mehfil badee hogee mushkil Nigaaho ke ham tum nishaane banenge Ke rusawayeeyo ke Ke rusawayeeyo ke bahane banenge Agar saj chheda taraane banenge❤️ This song will always remind me of you Rita Ma’am (My daadi) I still can’t believe you’re gone You promised to get better and come back soon. You had asked me not to worry about you and you were all fine! Never have seen a stronger lady than you…always smiling.Never saying no! Shouting on us for not taking care of ourselves to getting food for us on set to laughing on all of my lame jokes. All of this is just playing on my mind. You were my daadi ❤️ You were and you will always be family ❤️ RIP daadi I love you Aa raha Hai Dekho Koi Ja raha hai dekho koi Sabke dil hain jaage jaage Sabki aankhein khoyi khoyi Khamoshi karti hai baatein Yeh raatein nayi purani Aate, aate jaate kehti hain koi kahani

A post shared by Bhumika Gurung (@gurungbhumika) on Jul 16, 2018 at 10:20pm PDT

RIP daadi ❤️ I love you

A post shared by Bhumika Gurung (@gurungbhumika) on Jul 16, 2018 at 10:46pm PDT

NSD graduate and Chak De! India actress Vibha Chibber said,”She was a very senior actress but her simplicity and down-to-earth nature endeared her to everyone. She would read books in her free time but when she gossiped with us it never felt like she was a veteran. The team of Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein was full of young people. She would feed people. Rita Ji had a very big heart. She could do the toughest scenes effortlessly. She was always smiling. I remember her fish preparations.”