Lillete Dubey (Keswani)
Introductory
Sindhi Actress – Sindhi in Bollywood – Theater – Director – English Play
Lillete Dube at first instant many of you bound to wonder what she has to do in biography section of Sindhi in Bollywood films because neither by name Lillete nor by surname Dube she appeared to be a Sindhi but reality is stranger than fiction so reality is that Lillete Dubey or Lillete Keswani is born as daughter of Lila and Gobind Keswani on 7 September 1953 in Pune Maharashtra. Her name Lillete is actually faux-French derivation of her mother’s name Lila and means Little Lila. This happens only father wants give a modern & unique name to her. She adopted surname Dubey after her marriage with Raj Dubey in 1978.
About Lillete Dubey (Keswani)
Though I never considered myself as film lover but still I remember character of Shanti Patel played by Lillete Dube in film Baghban. In the film length of character can’t be said as long and Star actors like Paresh Rawal [in film her husband] and Amitabh Bachchan were co-stars even than this is sheer magic of her acting that this character remained alive in memory. Similarly, she portrayed character of Jaswinder Kapoor in film Kal Ho Na Ho with her magical touch of acting that it goes deep in minds of movie audiences. A few other films with her memorable role are Zubeida, Monsoon Wedding, My Brother Nikhil, Delhi in a Day, Bow Barracks Forever, Marigold Hotel and Sonata.
Lillete Dube is famous as Stage & Film actress and Director in the world of theater. In the world of theater everyone remembers her for Adhe Adhure and Dance like a Man [more than 500 shows worldwide], creating record of longest running Indian play in English. Television is also work area for Lillete Dube. Darr Sabko Lagta Hai and Indian Summers are two of her most impressive television serials. Her films and even theater work is appreciated throughout the world and brought many awards for her during various international and national film festivals.
If we look at the childhood it resembles somewhat with Gypsy community of Europe because her father was in service of Railways – a transferable job and gynaecologist mother has also joined Indian Army. After the birth of Lillete family shifted to Bikaner in Rajasthan but her studies started with Loretto Convent Lucknow and soon she was admitted to Rustom Boarding school in Pune from where she came to Carmel Convent Delhi and again back to Pune to join St. Mary’s. Her first acting assignment was role of Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest. Considering own interest Lillete wants to choose Arts for her higher studies whereas considering excelling in studies her parents wants that she should go for higher studies in Science.
Lillete has ended her studies with Post Graduate Degrees in English and in Mass Communication from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi. During her studies at Delhi, she met with Ravi Dubey and very shortly was in love with him. On 12 September 1978 both got married and Lillete Keswani becomes Lillete Dubey.
This was brilliance of Ravi to become youngest-ever General Manager of the Taj Mansingh hotel. He retired or rather quite from the profession in 2004 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at the Tata Group. In the year 2015 Ravi died of Cancer living responsibility of two daughters Neha and Ira with Lillete Dubey.
Lillete Dubey (Keswani)- Filmography
Famous and popular Sindhi folk singer Bhagwanti Navani is eventually immortal as she even after losing the physical existence still alive at hearts of thousands and thousands of Sindhi music lovers. Often called as Sindhi Koyel Bhagwanti was born on 01 Feb 1940 at Nasarpur. Undisputed queen of Singing Sindhi Lada (marriage ritual songs) Bhagwanti will always be remembered for singing Sukhamani Sahib (Guru Bani) in Sindhi. She also acted in Sindhi film Sindhua Je Kinare. On 22 Oct 1986 she left for heavenly abode.