Bollywood comedy queen Tun Tun dead

Uma Devi, popularly known as Tun Tun, the rotund actress with an inimitable flair for comedy, passed away on Monday after a prolonged illnes...

Uma Devi, popularly known as Tun Tun, the rotund actress with an inimitable flair for comedy, passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness. She was 80 and is survived by two sons. The actress had been living a life of a recluse for the past couple of years, industry sources said. She was last spotted at a felicitation of the Cine Artistes’ Association.

Uma Devi, who began her career as a singer in the 1960s, lent her voice to many songs, including the memorable ‘‘Afsana likh rahi hu’’. She acted in over 100 films as a comedian.

Condoling her death, Amitabh Bachchan said: ‘‘I have had the pleasure of working with her and am deeply grieved by her demise. I was aware that she was unwell. Not only was she a great artiste, but a great human being too. The sense of humour, energy and warmth exuded by her on the screen characterised her personal life as well. Any mehfil attended by her, always resounded with laughter.’’

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President of Cine Artistes’ Association Chandrashekhar said: ‘‘Her death is a major loss to the film industry.’’ He recalled that she had acted in his film, Street Singer, way back in 1965.

Actor Akshay Kumar said: ‘‘I didn’t know about this. Whenever I remember her, her celluloid images get vivid instantly. I used to regularly see her comedy films.’’ The actress, whose entry provided a comic relief in many a tragic saga, rose in popularity with her characteristic style: A mischievous twinkle in her eyes, her grin coupled with her obese and slow gait.