Reema Lagoo – The most popular screen mother of Salman Khan

It was quite unexpected. Bollywood lost two great actors in quick succession – Vinod Khanna and Reema Lagoo. Lagoo was fully active in the entertainment industry and only in her late 50s when death took her away. When I just checked her Wikipedia page, I was surprised to know, she played Salman Khan’s mother most number of times, mostly in the 1990s. Apart from doing Salman Khan’s mother’s roles in many blockbuster hits, they frequently worked together, though not as mother and son.

Definitely Reema Lagoo perfectly fits as Salman Khan’s screen mother in all these times. In most of these cases, she played a traditional Indian mother who had a rapport with the son, and their screen chemistry is awesome. Reema started accepting mother roles for lead heroes when she was only 30 or 31, yet she fitted the roles at best. Salman is only 8 years younger to Reema Lagoo. Yet the duo formed one of the best mother-son jodis of silver screen ever. This column is humble tribute to this versatile actress, who is widely regarded as the most popular screen mother of new generation Bollywood.

They worked together for the first time in Meine Pyar Kiya

The debut movie of Khan in a leading role, it’s for the first time Reema worked with him. She played Salman Khan’s doting mother in this film, and a dutiful husband. Her character accepts Bhagyasree as her daughter-in-law, and supports her son’s love. Meine Pyar Kiya played a magnificent role in Salman and Reema’s acting career and very soon Reema turned the most popular screen mother of Bollywood 1990s. After the huge success of this film, Reema became a permanent fixture of almost every Rajshri productions directed by Sooraj R. Bharjatiya, and Salman too worked in a series of movies as her screen son.

Saajan and Phool Ka Pattar – During the formative years of Salman Khan

Both these successful movies were released in the year 1991, and Saajan turned to be a blockbuster. Reema played Salman’s mother in both these movies, and her roles as screen mom got noticed also. After that she accepted similar roles for several times. She played a doting mother of Salman in this film, and she repeated this kind of roles later. Her character understands what his son carries in his mind without any words, and she did this role so convincingly that it created a new image of Bollywood mother, which was followed later by many filmmakers. Needless to say, she played similar roles later several times.

Screen mom for Rajshri films directed by Sooraj Bharjatiya

She gained the title of screen mom with her first association with Rajshri films itself, when she played mom of Salman Khan in Meine Pyar Kiya. Sooraj has directed only 6 films up-to-date and except the last two works as a director, he gave opportunity to Reema Lagoo to play a pivot role in his film. Four of those films belong to Salman and except the last one, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Reema worked with Salman in Meine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Hum Saath Saath Hain. She played Salman’s mom role in Meine Pyar Kiya and Hum Saath Saath Hain and mother of lead heroine Madhuri Dixit in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun whom Salman marries in the climax.

Other movies as Salman’s screen mother

She played Salman Khan’s mother in David Dhawan’s super hit film, Judwaa. Salman played a double role in this film. She also played Salman’s mother in Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya and Nischay.  Among all the movies of this duo, these two movies registered box office failure. She was also seen in Kahi Pyar Na Ho Gaya which received moderate success at box office. 

Seven movies as Salman’s mother with two flops only

Reema Lagoo played Salman’s mother in 7 movies up-to-date – Meine Pyar Kiya, Saajan, Pathar Ke Phool, Nischay, Judwa, Hum Saath Saath Hain and Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya. Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya and Nischay were major flops at box office, while the rest registered super success. Ironically, Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya in 2006 was the last movie for which the actors shared screen space together.

Reema as Salman’s heroine’s mom

Hum Aapke Hain Kaun is a milestone movie of both Reema and Salman’s career. Though they didn’t appear as mom and son for the movie, they had several combination scenes in the film. Reema played Madhuri Dixit’s mother in the film, whom Salman marries in the climax. In mega blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Reema plays Salman’s fiancée’s mother, and the role was played by Kajol. There is one amazing combination scene of Salman and Reema in the film, where Salman tells Kajol is not meant for him.  

If I missed to mention any movie in the list, please let me know. You might be interested to read top roles played by Reema Lagoo onscreen.