Veteran actress Aasha Singh Jaiswal dies in Mumbai
Veteran actress and mimicry artist Aasha Singh Jaiswal died in Mumbai on August 22 at approximately 7:30 pm, as reported by The Economic Times and Hindustan Times. Her son, Akkash Bharadwaj, confirmed the news and stated that she breathed her last in Mumbai. Her last rites were performed on August 23 at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Vile Parle West.
A life in films and television
Aasha Singh Jaiswal was best known for her portrayal of Kripi, the sister of Kripacharya, in B.R. Chopra's iconic television series 'Mahabharat'. According to reports in both The Economic Times and Hindustan Times, she gained recognition not only for her acting but also for her pioneering work as a mimicry artist. She was particularly admired for her voice impersonations of the legendary actress Meena Kumari. Her son described her as India's first female mimicry artist, a claim highlighted in both outlets' coverage.
Beyond her performance career, Jaiswal founded and operated Aasha Events and Films, and was involved in social work, as noted by her son and reported by Hindustan Times.
Son's emotional tribute
Following her death, Akkash Bharadwaj paid a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. In a Hindi-language post, he described his mother as a 'karmath Loh-Mahila' (Iron Lady) and urged people to pray for the peace and salvation of her soul. The tribute, quoted by both The Economic Times and Hindustan Times, read: "Wah ek karmath Loh-Mahila (Iron Lady) thi. Aap sabhi unki aatma ki sadgati evam shanti ke liye prarthna karen. Aur unke kaam ko social media par zarur dekhen aur yaad rakhen taaki unki aatma jahan bhi hon prasanchitt ho ki aap unka kaam ab bhi dekh aur yaad kar rahen hain." He further reflected on the importance of her work, saying that her deeds were everything to her, and hoped that remembering her work would grant her ultimate divine bliss.
Circumstances around her death
Neither The Economic Times nor Hindustan Times reported a confirmed cause of death. However, both outlets noted that the actress had been suffering from a lung infection for about three months prior to her death. Details about the circumstances surrounding her passing have not been disclosed by the family, as reported in the coverage.
The news of her death has brought mourning among her family and those who knew her work, as highlighted in the reports.