‘She would have loved this audience’

Zohra Sehgal was a great artiste and a very cheerful human being.

Sheila Dikshit arrived around 11 am and placed a wreath before leaving.

Fans milled around in loose groups, security guards stood on alert and, above the hum of conversation, there was a smell of roses. When the grand old lady made her last public appearance, it was a showstopper.

“She would have loved this audience and the drama. How she would have laughed that she, an irreverent pathan, was being cremated with Ram naam,” publisher Ritu Menon of Women Unlimited said as veteran actor Zohra Sehgal’s pyre was lit at Lodhi Road crematorium on Friday morning. “She would have laughed at us, at herself and made us laugh with her,” theatre director Anuradha Kapur said.

Zohra, veteran actor of innumerable films, theatre and television shows in India and England, died of a cardiac arrest in Delhi on Thursday. She was 102. “In her last days, she had become very frail and needed help to move around. But, she had an immense inner strength and was full of life. One cannot imagine how much power she had within her. I am unbelievably proud she was my mother,” Pavan Sehgal, who performed the last rites, said.

The actor’s daughter Kiran Sehgal, an Odissi dancer who had written the book — Zohra Sehgal: Fatty — to mark her centenary birthday in 2012, and her grandchildren were present at the funeral. “It will take a few days,” Kiran said about her loss.
Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit arrived around 11 am and placed a wreath before leaving. “It is hard to describe Zohra Sehgal. She was a great artiste and a very cheerful human being. She had a brilliant memory. Our country will always remember her. She never took anything negatively,” Dikshit said.

Film personalities Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, Prasar Bharti CEO Jawhar Sircar, photographer Ram Rahman and theatre personalities Kirti Jain and M K Raina were there to pay their last respects.

People talked about their favourite Zohra Sehgal memory – of watching British television shows such as Bhaji on the Beach and Jewel in the Crown or Hindi films such as Dil Se, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Veer Zara, Saawariya, and Cheeni Kum.
Natural beauty expert Suparna Trikha remembered one of her oldest family friends. “Once, I remember we were out somewhere and she said she had to leave. We asked why and she said, ‘My parrot’s waiting for me’. Well, she never had a parrot, she only had a dog and it was called Short Circuit. That’s her sense of humour. You can’t mourn Zohra Sehgal, she has spread so much happiness.”

Though there were misty eyes at the crematorium, it was not unusual to see people break into a smile or a laugh as they recalled their time with Zohra aapa. “I worked with her for the first time in a play in 2002. She was around 90 at that time. She was a thorough professional and always had a smile on her face,” said Azmi.

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Activist Shabnam Hashmi and a group gave her the Lal Salaam, shouting out “Zohra Sehgal lal salam” and “Zohra Sehgal zindabad”.

“I feel as if we have lost somebody very close. For 25 years, she had participated in events of Sahmat (a trust set up in the memory of slain theatre activist Safdar Hashmi) and also acted in the documentaries we made for the group Anhad. She lived by ideals of pluralism and diversity,” she said.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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