Mumbai, June 19: Renowned actress Sushma Seth has portrayed numerous memorable roles as a mother, grandmother, and matriarch throughout her illustrious career. However, one character truly defined her legacy: Dadi, or Imarti Devi, from the beloved television series ‘Hum Log.’ The audience’s attachment to this role was so profound that when plans were made to remove her character from the storyline, viewers erupted in protest, inundating Doordarshan with letters.
Sushma Seth was born on June 20, 1936, in Delhi. Coming from a family deeply rooted in art and culture, she developed a passion for acting and music from a young age. She completed her education in Delhi and later pursued theater and acting studies in the United States. Her dedication to acting was so intense that upon returning from abroad, she fully embraced theater. Although theater did not offer substantial financial rewards at the time, for Sushma, it was more than just a job; it was a passion.
After returning to Delhi, she collaborated with several prominent theater artists, establishing her identity in the theatrical world. After nearly two decades of stage performances, she transitioned to television.
Sushma Seth gained widespread recognition through Doordarshan’s first popular family show, ‘Hum Log,’ where she played the role of Dadi Imarti Devi. This character resonated so well with audiences that she became a beloved member of every household. However, a plot twist threatened to end her character, leading to an outpouring of letters to Doordarshan and the show’s producers, with viewers pleading for Dadi to remain on the show.
In various interviews, Sushma has shared that the audience’s love was instrumental in extending her character’s journey. Ultimately, however, the storyline required Dadi’s death to be depicted.
Following her success on television, Sushma Seth made her film debut at the age of 42 with the movie ‘Junoon,’ released in 1978. Typically, actors have already established their film careers by that age, but Sushma began anew and achieved remarkable success. She went on to star in major films such as ‘Silsila,’ ‘Prem Rog,’ ‘Tawaif,’ ‘Nagina,’ ‘Chandni,’ ‘Deewana,’ ‘Dhadkan,’ ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,’ and ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho.’
In films, she frequently portrayed roles of mothers, grandmothers, and matriarchs, sharing the screen with major stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Preity Zinta.
Sushma Seth has received numerous accolades for her outstanding performances. She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Amina Bai in the film ‘Tawaif.’ Yet, she is still most fondly remembered as Dadi from ‘Hum Log.’
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