Asha Lata

Ashalata Wabgaonkar (2 July 1941 – 22 September 2020) commonly known as Ashalata, was an Indian actress. Originally tracing her roots to Goa's Palolem village in Canacona ''taluka'' (or 'sub-district'), she was associated with the Mumbai-based Goa Hindu Association. She acted in over a hundred Hindi and Marathi movies. She also sang some Konkani songs broadcast over the Mumbai station of the All India Radio.

Konkani, Marathi, Hindi

Goa-born Ashalata was also famous as a Marathi singer, playwright besides being a film actress. She studied at the prominent St. Columba's Girls High School at Gramdevi, and was a post-graduate in Psychology from the SNDT Women's University.
She first started performing in Konkani and Marathi plays.

Roles in movies

She acted in more than a hundred Hindi and Marathi movies. Some of her Marathi plays are ''Guntata Hridhya He'', ''Varyavarchi Varaat'', ''Chinna'' (with Smita Patil and Sadashiv Amrapurkar) and ''Mahananda''. Her Marathi stage career took off with the musical play ''Matsyagandha''.

Entry into films

She was introduced in Hindi films by Basu Chatterjee in ''Apne Paraye'' (along with Bharati Achrekar) for which she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She starred in films such as ''Ankush'' (1986), ''Apne Paraye'' (1980), '' Ahista Ahista'', ''Shaukeen'', '' Woh Saat Din'', ''Namak Halaal'' and ''Yaadon Ki Kasam'' (1985).
For appearing in Bollywood in Basu Chatterjee's film ''Apne Paraye'', she bagged the 'Bengal Critics Award' and the Filmfare Award for the Best Supporting Actor. She played the role of Amitabh Bachchan's stepmother in the film ''Zanjeer''. Ashalata has acted in many successful Hindi films including ''Ankush'', ''Apne Paraye'', ''Ahista Ahista'', ''Shaukeen'', ''Woh Saat Din'', ''Namak Halal'' and ''Yaadon Ki Kasam''.

Marathi drama

Ashalata was a big name in Marathi theater world too, and made her dramatic debut in the role of Revathi in the play ''Sangeet Sanshaykallol'' presented by The Goa Hindu Association. The Marathi drama ''Matsyagandha'' proved to be a milestone in Ashalata's acting career. In this work, she also sang the songs ''Garda Sabbhoti Ran Sajni Tu Tar Chafekali'', and ''Arthashunya Bhase Maja ha Kalaha Jeevanacha''.

Classical music

She received training in classical music and was a fine Marathi Natyasangeet singer. Some of her Marathi films are ''Umbartha'', ''Sutradhar'', ''Navri Mile Navryala'' and ''Vahinichi Maya''.
''Gard Sabhowati'', a book authored by Ashalata Wabgaonkar and published by Lotus Publications, Mumbai, touches on the memories and journey of the author in the film industry.

Death

Wabgaonkar died from COVID-19 on 22 September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India in Satara, Maharashtra, while shooting for a Marathi serial (आई माझी काळूबाई) ''Aai Mazi Kalubai''. She was 79. On being unwell, she was admitted to a private hospital in Satara, Maharashtra, and was found positive for COVID-19. She was taking a ventilator treatment. She died around 4.45 AM on the morning of 22 September 2020. Her remains were cremated in Satara itself by co-actor Alka Kubal. "She was put on a ventilator on Monday night after her oxygen levels fell drastically and died early on Tuesday at around 4:45 am. Her family couldn't come due to the ongoing pandemic and told us to cremate her in Satara and not bring her body down to Mumbai", Alka Kubal said.

Selected filmography

*'' Tinhi Sanja'' (2016) Marathi film
*''Sunrise'' (2014) Marathi film as Radhabai (2014)
*''One Room Kitchen'' (2011) Marathi film as Joshi Kaku
*''Mani Mangalsutra'' (2010) Marathi film
*'' Police Force: An Inside Story'' as Revathi (Vijay's mother) (2004)
*''Beti No.1'' as Savitri (Priya's mom) ( 2000)
*''Do Ankhen Barah Hath'' (1997)
*''Daava'' as Bhishma's mom; Stepmom of Arjun & Suraj (1997)
*'' Agni Sakshi'' as Mrs. Kapoor (1996)
*''Zordaar'' as Ravi's mom (1996)
*'' Fauji'' as Bansilal's wife (1995)
*'' Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se'' as Laxmi H. Prasad - Mohan's mom (1994)
*''Prem Deewane'' (1992)
*''Humlaa'' as Mrs. Devkishan Sharma (1992)
*'' Zindagi Ek Juaa'' as Laxmi (1992)
*''Jhoothi Shaan'' as Savitri (1991)
*''Khoon Ka Karz'' as Judge (1991)
*''Maherchi Sadi'' (1991) Marathi film
*'' Saugandh'' as Ganga's mom (1991)
*''Pratigyabadh'' as Nun (1991)
*''Azaad Desh Ke Gulam'' as Sharda A. Bhandari (1990)
*''Kali Ganga'' (1990)
*''Shaitani Ilaaka'' (1990)
*''Bandh Darwaza'' as Kumar's mother (1990)
*'' Ghayal'' (1990) as Mrs. Ashok Pradhan
*'' JailKhana'' (1989)
*''Kamla Ki Maut'' as Nirmala S. Patel (1989)
*''Mahaadev'' as Padma Singh (1989)
*''Apna Desh Paraye Log'' (1989)
*''Daata'' as Ratanbai (1989)
*''Billoo Badshah'' as Sumitra - Vijay's mom (1989)
*''Gair Kanooni'' as Mrs. Asha Dalal (1989)
*''Farz Ki Jung'' as Vikram's mom (1989)
*''Jeete Hain Shaan Se'' as Geeta Verma (1989)
*''Hatya'' as Vegetable vendor (1988)
*''Gammat Jammat'' as Mrs. Korde (1987)
*'' Marte Dam Tak'' as Mrs. P.C. Mathur (1987)
*''Watan Ke Rakhwale'' as Mahavir's mom (1987)
*'' Insaf Ki Pukar'' as Mrs. Jagannath (1987)
*''Woh Din Aayega'' as Sumitra (1987)
*''Ankush'' as Anita's mom (1986)
*'' Pahuchey Huwey Log'' (1986)
*''Ghar Dwaar'' as Chanda's mother (1985)
*'' Wafadaar'' as Mrs Daya Sagar (1985)
*''Rahi Badal Gaye'' (1985)
*''Karm Yudh'' (1985) as Geeta Kumar
*''Sarfarosh'' as Rani Urmial Devi (1985)
*'' ''Zamana'' (1985 film)'' as Sudha S Kumar (1985)
*'' Navri Mile Navryala'' (1984) Marathi film
*''Purana Mandir'' as Damyanti - Ranvir's sister (1984)
* ''All Rounder'' as Ritu's mom (1984)
*''Raaj Tilak'' (1984)
*''Sharaabi'' as Mrs. Kapoor (1984)
*'' Aaj Ki Awaaz'' as Mrs. V.V. Deshmukh (1984)
*''Gupchup Gupchup'' (1983) Marathi film
*'' Woh Saat Din'' (1983) as Maya's mother
*''Sadma'' as Mrs. Malhotra (1983)
*''Coolie'' as Parvati (Nathu's wife) (1983)
*'' Love in Goa'' as Mrs. Merry D'Souza (1983)
*''Namak Halaal'' as Nisha's mother (1983)
*''Dil-e-Nadaan'' (1982)
*''Shaukeen'' as Sita Choudhury (1982)
*'' Ahista Ahista'' as Kaveri (1981)
*''Apne Paraye'' as Sidheshwari (1980)
*'' Chalte Chalte'' (1976)
*'' Zanjeer'' as Police Inspector's wife - Vijay's stepmother (1973)

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wabgaonkar, Ashalata
Actresses from Goa
Actresses in Marathi cinema
1941 births
2020 deaths
Marathi-language singers
Actresses in Hindi cinema
20th-century Indian actresses
People of Portuguese India
Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India