Picture this: a young Ramesh Deo at a horse race, unwittingly becoming director Raja Paranjpe’s lucky charm and landing his first film role. That twist of fate propelled the Kolhapur-born actor (January 30, 1929) into a monumental career featuring 285 Hindi and 190 Marathi films. Deo’s debut came via a cameo in ‘Patalchi Por’, evolving into a starring role in ‘Andhala Magto Ek Dola’ by 1956, where his talent dazzled Marathi audiences.
Bollywood beckoned with ‘Aarti’ in 1962, opening doors to collaborations with legends—Amitabh in ‘Anand’, Rajesh Khanna in ‘Aap Ki Kasam’, Shatrughan Sinha in ‘Mere Apne’, and more with Dharmendra-Hema Malini. Off-screen, Deo dominated ads (250+), becoming India’s ad king, and theater, enriching Marathi stage traditions.
Love blossomed on set with actress Seema Deo during ‘Vardakshina’ in 1962, leading to marriage and joint projects fans adored. Their lineage thrives through actor son Ajinkya and director Abhinav. Accolades peaked with the 2013 Lifetime Achievement at Pune Film Festival.
On February 2, 2022, at 93, Deo passed in Mumbai’s Kokilaben Hospital, triggering widespread grief. Yet, his vast repertoire—from reels to stage—keeps his spirit alive, reminding us of an era when charisma and craft ruled the screens.