Madhu Malhotra, ‘Hero’ and ‘Satte Pe Satta’ star dies

Subhash Ghai’s box-office hit Hero (1983) led to a string of blockbusters such as Tu mera jaanu hai, Pyar karne wale kabhi darte nahi and Ding dong baby sing a song. But the song that seems to age the most over time is “Lambi judaai,” a melancholic song infused with soul by Pakistani folk singer Reshma. Madhu Malhotra, one of the heroines in the superhit multi-film Satte Pe Satta (1982), who lip-synced to the anguished song on celluloid in a colorful gypsy costume, died in Mumbai on Friday, business magazine Film Information reported. She is 71 years old. Madhu was a familiar face in Hindi cinema in the 1970s and 1980s, having appeared in more than 100 films, mostly in supporting roles. She was a regular in Gaye’s films, with guest appearances in Vishwanath (1978), Karz (1980) and Vidhaata (1982), as well as Mohan Bhakri’s horror films Khooni Murda (1989) and Roohani Taqat (1991). In “Satte Pe Satta” she is paired with comedian Paintal. Oldies may remember her as the happy girl wearing a beach hat in the song “Mausam mastana”. “She played a small role in my film Shradhanjali (1981). She was a complete professional,” says film director Anil Sharma.