Renowned director, actor and screenplay writer Satyadev Dubey passed away here this morning after suffering from a prolonged illness. He was 75.
"He was in coma for the past few months. He suffered a brain stroke and passed away at the hospital at 11.30 am," said Satyajit Dubey, his grandnephew.
The veteran playwright and director suffered a seizure at Prithvi Theatre Cafe in suburban Juhu in September this year, and since then he was in coma.
Dubey's health was fragile for quite some time and he was in and out of hospital in the last few years.
A Padma Bhushan awardee, Dubey had become a legend in Marathi-Hindi theatre. Though born in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, he made Mumbai his home, and became a towering figure of the Marathi theatre.
In his long career, he produced/directed plays of all the prominent playwrights of post-Independence period: Girish Karnad (Yayati, Hayavadana), Badal Sarkar (Evam Indrajit, Pagla Ghoda), Chandrashekhara Kambara (Aur Tota Bola - Jokumaraswamy in original Kannada), Mohan Rakesh (Aadhe Adhure), Vijay Tendulkar (Gidhade, Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe).
He also penned film scripts/dialogue, including Shyam Benegal's 'Bhumika'.
His theatre workshops too were much sought-after among the amateurs and professionals alike.
"Satyadev Dubey the icon of the world of theatre has passed away! Fond memories of our days of wandering invade me. Alvida Dubeyji! Love," filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt tweeted.
