The sudden demise of actor-dancer Ashwini Ekbote while performing on stage on Saturday evening left people shocked. Ekbote (44), a popular face remembered for her splendid performances in theatre, television and films, suffered a cardiac arrest during the closing act of programme, Natya Trividha, at Bharat Natya Mandir in Sadashiv Peth and died within minutes.
As it was the premier show of the programme, her close friends and relatives were present at the event. Ekbote’s parents too were among those present who witnessed her final collapse. Sharad Ponkshe, the actor who had a 15-year-long association with Ekbote, too was part of the audience when the unfortunate incident happened. Ponkshe and Ekbote worked together in several films, TV serials and plays, and the former also directed Ekbote in the play, Eka Kshankat.
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According to Vishwas Pangarkar, the actor who was also present at the event, said Ekbote’s performance on Saturday night was one of her best in many years. She had performed three classical numbers and was about to finish the fourth when she collapsed, Pangarkar said, adding that he had talked about a ‘classy finish’ minutes before she took to the stage.
Pangarkar, who also knew Ekbote for decades, said that the actress didn’t have any history of heart-related disorders. “She was completely healthy. Being a dancer she had to be,” he said. Ponkshe reminisces the day fifteen years ago when he first met Ekbote during an advertisement shoot in Pune and how she climbed the ladder of success patiently without opting for shortcuts.
Another colleague, Bhagyesh Desai, remembers her as an artiste with a social conscience.
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“Ashwini was actively involved in women empowerment and environmental issues. She was running a dance training class and very often conducted shows without charging any fee. She also gets credit for her contribution to popularising dance in Maharashtra,” said Desai.
She always treated me like a son on set. My first casting of script. Jus can't accept that she is no more. RIP #AshwiniEkbote pic.twitter.com/5VFRSje4Hn
— Bhagyesh Desai (@DesaiBhagyesh) October 22, 2016
#AshwiniEkbote never used glycerine for emotional scenes: #BhagyeshDesai on the deceased Marathi actress https://t.co/U7j9Joemsc pic.twitter.com/kS5Xe6lVc2— DNA (@dna) October 23, 2016
Source: Indian Express
