Veteran actor Pravina Deshpande, who shared screen space with Salman Khan in the 2011 hit Ready, has died at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer. Deshpande, whose final screen appearance was in the recent OTT series Taskaree starring Emraan Hashmi, died on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as per ANI.
Deshpande had a career that spanned decades across film, television and theatre. Her family confirmed the news of her death through her official Instagram account, stating that she died on February 17. The cremation was held the same day at the Hindu Crematorium in Chakala Parsiwada, Andheri East. Tributes began pouring in soon after the announcement, with colleagues and admirers remembering her discipline, generosity and unwavering commitment to her craft.
Deshpande built a respected body of work in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Apart from Ready, she featured in Ek Villain (2014), starring Riteish Deshmukh , Sidharth Malhotra and Shraddha Kapoor, and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018) featuring John Abraham. Whether in mainstream commercial films or more layered narratives, she brought emotional nuance to even the briefest roles.
Known for moving seamlessly between languages and formats, she earned admiration from peers for her professionalism and willingness to mentor younger actors. On television, she became a familiar presence in homes across India through shows such as Ghar Ek Mandir, Kumkum, Karam Apnaa Apnaa and Kulfi Kumar Bajewala. Her contribution to Marathi cinema and theatre was equally significant.
The Cine & TV Artistes’ Association expressed condolences, acknowledging her longstanding contribution to the acting community.
