Veteran actress Rita Bhaduri, best known for her roles in films like Julie, Hero No. 1 and Beta, has died. She was 62. Bhaduri passed away on Tuesday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest at Sujoy Hospital in Juhu, Mumbai. She was in the hospital for the past two weeks.

“She was suffering from kidney ailment and organs had become weak. She passed away due to cardiac arrest at about 1.45 am,” her niece Mini Bhaduri said.

Actor Shishir Sharma took to Facebook to inform about her demise. “We deeply regret to inform you that Rita Bhaduri has departed for her journey beyond… Extremely sad.. lost a wonderful human being. A mother to many of us.. Will miss you Ma,” he wrote.

Born into a middle class Bengali family in Lucknow, Rita Bhaduri was often mistaken as the sister of Jaya (Bhaduri) Bachchan. But Rita always shrugged it off, saying “I am used to it”.

One of the first roles in which she got noticed was in the 1975 blockbuster Julie, where she played Usha Bhattacharya, the best friend of the titular character essayed by Lakshmi. The lilting Lata Mangeshkar number composed by Rajesh Roshan Ye Raatein Nayi Purani was picturised on Rita Bhaduri.