Veteran actress and dancer Madhumati passes away at 87, Akshay Kumar and Vindu Dara Singh pay tribute
She was known for her immense contributions to cinema and was often compared to legendary performers of the golden era, including Helen.
Veteran Indian actress and acclaimed dancer Madhumati took her last breath today, October 15, 2025. She was 87.
She was known for her immense contributions to cinema and was often compared to legendary performers of the golden era, including Helen.
Soon after her passing, several actors and film personalities offered their condolences. Akshay Kumar, Vindu Dara Singh, Chunky Panday, and Jaspinder Narula were among the first ones to pay tribute.
For the unversed, Madhumati was born in Maharashtra in 1938. She started her career as a dancer in 1957.
Coming from a Parsi family, her birth name was Hutoxi Reporter. She was trained in several dance forms, including Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Manipuri, and Kathakali.
Madhumati was married to Manohar Deepak at the age of 19. She is best known for her work in films like Ankhen, Tower House, Shikari, and Mujhe Jeene Do.
Renowned dancer and actress Madhumati passed away at her Juhu residence at age 84 Wednesday. Her fluid movement, be it Kathak or contemporary Western, granted her pride of place in Hindi cinema from the 1950s to the 70s.Born to a Parsi judge in Thane in 1941, Madhumati’s maiden name was Hutoxi Reporter. She was the sister of noted cricket umpire Pilloo Reporter. She overcame parental opposition to start her career as a dancer in a remake of Raja Harishchandra. Her first film was Zameen Ke Taare where she played the stern mother of Honey Irani. And her final cameo was as Mukri’s wily beloved Bijli Bai in ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’.
Madhumati’s expressive moves elevated songs like Jhanak jhanak tori baje payaliya (Mere Huzoor) and Le de saiyyan odhni (Pavitra Paapi). But her full plumage unfurled in ‘Tere naina talaash karein jise’ which was a highlight of the movie ‘Talaash’. The consummate dancer often featured alongside Gopi Krishna, for instance, ‘Na moonh chhupa ke jiyo’ and ‘Champavati tu aaja’. Madhumati looked remarkably similar to Helen with whom she performed ‘Huzoor e’ vaala’.At age 19 she married dancer Manohar Deepak, the stalwart who acted and choreographed most Punjabi Bhangra numbers in Hindi cinema, beginning with Raj Kapoor’s films (Dekhi main jhooth boliya) onto ‘Yeh desh hai veer jawanon ka’ (Naya Daur).
Their alliance was mediated by Nargis. Manohar led a dance group for Sunil Dutt’s Ajanta Arts which performed along the border to entertain soldiers. The couple together made a Marathi film ‘Savli Premachi’ featuring Sunil Gavaskar.Manohar had four children whom Madhumati cherished, opting not to have any of her own. Madhumati and Manohar also ran a dance academy in Juhu where she trained Govinda, Akshay Kumar, Tabu, etc. Akshay Kumar paid tribute to her saying, “My first and forever guru. Everything I know about dance, I learnt at your feet, Madhumati ji. Har adaa, har expression mein aapki yaad hamesha saath rahegi.”