Marathi theatre industry and bollywood are both mourning passing away of Shyam Ponkshe and Deven Verma, respectively.

Shyam Ponkshe was known to be an endearing co-actor to many leading Marathi stage actors including Prashant Damle and Atul Parchure. He will be remembered for his roles in Marathi dramas like ‘Jaadu Teri Nazar’, ‘Eka Lagnachi Goshta’, ‘Priyatama’,‘Be Dune Paach‘. A voracious reader and vastly knowledgeable was highly appreciated for his role in ‘Tilak ani Aagarkar’. He died at the age of 62 on 1st dec’14.

Deven Verma, bollywood character artist, known for his impeccable comic timing in films like ‘Khatta Meetha‘, ‘Angoor’ etc., who also was close to a few Marathi film personalities, expired on 2nd dec’14. Son-in-law of bollywood’s ‘Dadamuni’ – Ashok Kumar, Deven Verma will be remembered for his straight faced and deadpan comedy which kept the audiences in high spirits, without resorting to cheap or below the belt humour. He was fond of marathi cinema for it being content oriented, and has acted in couple of Marathi movies like, ‘Dost Asava Tar Asa‘, ‘Ha Khel Savalyancha’. He