‘Smita Patil said dress me up as suhagan when I die’: Makeup artist recalls actor’s wish, doing her make-up in front of Amitabh Bachchan, family

Smita Patil’s makeup artist Deepak Sawant recalled her last day, sharing how she often wished to die a married woman.

Chennai | October 7, 2025 05:56 PM IST

3 min read

Smita Patil passed away in 1986. (Photo: Express Archives)

Makeup artist Deepak Sawant, who has worked with Bollywood A-list celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, recently recalled working with the late actor Smita Patil. Deepak spoke about Smita’s last day and shared how the actor always expressed the wish to die a married woman.

Speaking on the YouTube channel Reel Meets Real, Deepak said, “Smita Patil used to say mujhe suhagan banake leke jana (I should die a married woman.) I used to scold her to not say things like this. She used to say this even to her mother who would also scold her.”

Deepak recalled how he teared up before doing her last makeup. Recalling her last day, he shared, “After she died, her sister was coming from Chicago and she took 2-3 days to come. During this time, her body was kept on ice and it had swollen.”

He added, “Her mother gave me a make-up kit and Amitabh Bachchan and other people were sitting there. She gave me the make-up kit in front of them and told me that it was her wish to go as a suhagan. I started crying and I did her make up while I was tearing up. I did her last make-up and I made her look very beautiful on her last day.”

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Raj was already married to Nadira when he fell in love with Smita. The two got married and welcomed Prateik, but Smita died in childbirth. After this, Raj got back together with Nadira. Smita welcomed Prateik on November 28, and on December 13, 1986, she breathed her last at the age of 31.

In an old conversation with Rediff.com, Raj Babbar recalled Smita’s final moments. He shared, “Throughout the journey from home to hospital, she kept apologising and I told her that everything would be okay. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. Her look said it all. The doctor came out after an hour and said she had gone into a coma.” He added, “I was part of her and she was part of me. It is natural that you miss a person who was your heart and soul throughout your life, no matter how brave you may say you are. She and her memories will continue to be part of me till my last day.”

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