May 18: Reema Lagoo, who came to represent the antithesis of the mournful white sari-clad mother of Hindi cinema through her portrayal of the modern-day Bollywood mother, passed away in Mumbai in the early hours of Thursday. She was 59.

Lagoo, who was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital late on Wednesday after she complained of chest pain, died around 3.15am. "She was complaining of chest pain so we took her to the hospital around 1am. She was perfectly fine and had no health issues... so it is really shocking for all of us that she is no more with us," Lagoo's son-in-law Vinay Waikul told PTI. She is survived by her daughter Mrunmayee, who is also a theatre and film actress as well as a theatre director.

Known for blockbuster hits like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun...! and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Lagoo - who debuted with the 1979 Marathi film Sinhasan - made her mother ever-smiling but strong, often ending up with Salman Khan, just eight years younger than her, as her son.

She also played mother to Shah Rukh Khan ( Kal Ho Naa Ho), Kajol (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), Madhuri Dixit ( Hum Aapke Hain Koun...!) and Govinda (Deewana Mastana).

But it was as Sanjay Dutt's mother in Vaastav - a lovable matriarch who ends up pulling the trigger on her gangster son - that Lagoo earned loudest applause.

Her last notable Hindi film was 2014's Ungli, in which she played mother to Randeep Hooda.

Lagoo, who is currently seen on the STAR Plus show Naamkarann, was prolific on the small screen and is best remembered for playing the quarrelsome mother-in-law in Tu Tu Main Main. Shriman Shrimati is another TV show she was known for.

On Thursday, Lagoo's friends and colleagues from Bollywood took to Twitter to mourn her death.

"Just heard the shocking and unbelievable news about Reema Lagoo's passing .. such a fine talent and gone so young ! Very SAD!!" tweeted Amitabh Bachchan. Karan Johar, who directed her in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai wrote, "This is truly sad news... she was warm, gracious and an exceptional actor... I had the privilege of directing her....#RIPReemaLagoo".

Priyanka Chopra summed it up with, "RIP #ReemaLagoo.... You are and will always be our favourite screen mom....."

Among the Bollywood faces seen at Lagoo's funeral on Thursday were Aamir Khan with wife Kiran Rao, Rishi Kapoor and Kajol. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, a friend and the writer of Naamkarann, told PTI: "When a friend passes away, one is hurled into deep silence. I am still grappling with the news of her sudden death."