Former Hindi-Punjabi film actress and dancer Madhumati Deepak passed away four days after her birthday on October 12. As per reports, she collapsed suddenly after following her regular morning routine and passed away within moments.
Madhumati, whose real name was Hutoxi, was born in Thane, Maharashtra. Over a career spanning around 25 years, she claimed to have worked in more than 1,000 films across multiple languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and several South Indian languages.
She appeared in over 30 Punjabi films, featuring in dance numbers as well as lead and supporting roles. During her active years, she was often referred to as the “Poor Man’s Helen,” though she earned her own recognition for her versatility and screen presence.
In an interview with Ghaint Punjab five years ago, Madhumati had spoken about her journey in the industry. “I was always interested in dance. My father, a judge, and my mother, a housewife, never discouraged me. I began performing on stage, and that’s how film offers started coming in,” she had said.
She had also shared details about her marriage to Manohar Deepak, a Punjabi performer known for his Bhangra numbers in films such as Jagte Raho and Naya Daur.
“He was a Punjabi widower with four kids, and I was a young Parsi girl. Nargis ji played cupid for our marriage. I accepted his children as my own, and they continue to stay in touch even though they live abroad,” she had recalled.
The couple mutually decided not to have children of their own.
“We supported each other in every decision. I was already raising his four kids, so I never felt childless or lonely. My dance academy team has always been like family,” she had said.
Madhumati also ran a dance academy through which she trained several leading Bollywood stars, including Akshay Kumar and Tabu.
Her passing marks the end of a significant chapter in the golden era of Indian cinema, remembered for its graceful dancers and multi-talented performers.