The supporting actor and comedienne of films such as Khatta Meetha and Khel Khel Mein breathed her last on December 2. This year has been sad for Bollywood, with many prominent members of its fraternity leaving for heavenly abode. Actor Preeti Ganguly, who was legendary Hindi actor Ashok Kumar’s daughter and singer-actor-director Kishore Kumar‘s niece, passed away in Mumbai on December 2.

She was 59.Often credited in films as Priti Ganguly or Priti Gangoli, a young Preeti made her debut in 1974 with Dhuen Ki Lakeer and followed it up with a supporting role in Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh-starrer Khel Khel Mein and later Rani Aur Lalpari in 1975. She was also seen in Balika Badhu (1976).

Having made her mark as a comedienne, she is remembered most for her role in Basu Chatterjee’s Khatta Meetha (1978) that also starred her father. Preeti’s other films include Ginny Aur Johny, Laila Majnu, Jhoota Kahin Ka, Uttar Dakshin, Superman and Thodisi Bewafai. The actor’s last screen appearance was in the Emraan Hashmi-Tanushree Dutta film Aashiq Banaya Aapne: Love Takes Over in 2005. Our condolences to Preeti’s family and may her soul rest in peace.