Veteran actress Ashalata Wabgaonkar, commonly known as Ashalata, died of COVID-19 this morning (22nd September) at 4.45 a.m. at a private hospital in Satara (Maharashtra). She was 79 and is survived by a son. She had gone to Satara to participate in the shooting of a Marathi TV serial, Aai Mazhi Kalubai. She tested positive for COVID-19 there. The virus claimed Ashalata’s life ultimately. Her last rites will be performed in Satara. In all, more than 20 unit members were attacked by the coronavirus. Ashalata was the only cast member to test positive; the rest were crew members.
Ashalata started out as a theatre actress, performing in Marathi and Konkani plays. She had acted in over a hundred Hindi and Marathi films. She was introduced in Hindi films by Basu Chatterjee who cast her in his Apne Paraye with Bharti Achrekar. She starred in films such as Ankush, Ahista Ahista, Shaukeen, Woh Saat Din, Namak Halaal and many others. Some of her Marathi films are Umbartha, Navri Mile Navryala, and Vahinichi Maya. She had authored a book, Gard Sabhowati, about her memories and journey in the film industry. She was trained in classical music and was a fine Marathi Natyasangeet singer.
Photo courtesy: Mangalesh Joshi