Ramesh Deo

Ramesh Deo (30 January 1929 – 2 February 2022) was an Indian film and television actor who worked in more than 285 Hindi films, 190 Marathi films and 30 Marathi dramas with over 200 showings in his long career. He also produced feature films, television serials and over 250 ad films. He directed a number of films, documentaries and television serials. He received many state and national awards for his works.

Ramesh Deo was born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra on 30 January 1929. His ancestral roots are from Jodhpur in Rajasthan. His father was a judge of Kolhapur. His ancestors shifted to Kolhapur as his great grandfather and grandfather were both engineers. They had built the Jodhpur Palace. They were called by Chatrapati Shahu Maharaja to build the city of Kolhapur. His grandfather came down to become the chief engineer to Shahu Maharaj, and his father was his legal advisor.

His made his film debut with a cameo appearance in Paatlaachi Por, a Marathi film, in 1951. Andhala Magto Ek Dola (1956), directed by Raja Paranjape, was his first full-fledged role. He started off as a villain. His first Hindi film was Rajshree Productions' Aarti (1962). In his long career, he has played supporting roles in films with Rajesh Khanna in lead namely - Anand, Joroo Ka Ghulam, Aap Ki Kasam, Prem Nagar, Ashanti, Goraa. He has played supporting in Mehrbaan, Dus Lakh, Raampur Ka Lakshman, Fakira, Shatrughan Sinha starer Mere Apne and many more.

In January 2013, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF). He worked in Nivdung, a Marathi serial in the year 2006.

Deo was married to Seema Deo, an actress formerly known as Nalini Saraf. His sons are Marathi actor Ajinkya Deo and Abhinay Deo, director of the 2011 film Delhi Belly. He died at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital from a heart attack on 2 February 2022, at the age of 93.