Actress dies after falling on stage during live performance

PUNE: Marathi actress Ashwini Ekbote died on Saturday after collapsing on stage during a live performance in Pune.

According to reports, the 44-year-old, who had also acted in several plays, was performing at the Bharat Natyamandir in Pune on Saturday evening when she collapsed on stage.

This is extremely shocking!!! Dear friend Ashwini Ekbote no more! So young, so fit, so full of life..! RIP 🙏💕💕

— sonalikulkarni (@sonalikulkarni) October 22, 2016

She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead.

Last year, the actress had made news when she claimed her co-passenger had behaved badly with her while travelling to Pune. Ashwini Ekbote preferred to keep a low profile as an actress. A website described her strength as entering the skin of the character. Her chemistry with actor Sharad Ponkshe was famous. Sharad also directed her in the Marathi play ‘Eka kshanaat’.

Ashwini’s friends from the Marathi film industry took to social media to share their shock at the news. Actress Sonali Kulkarni wrote on Twitter, “This is extremely shocking!!! Dear friend Ashwini Ekbote no more! So young, so fit, so full of life..! RIP.”

She always treated me like a son on set. My first casting of script. Jus can’t accept that she is no more. RIP #AshwiniEkbote pic.twitter.com/5VFRSje4Hn

— Bhagyesh Desai (@DesaiBhagyesh) October 22, 2016

Filmmaker Bhagyesh Desai said he found it hard to accept the news, “She always treated me like a son on set. My first casting of script. Jus can’t accept that she is no more. RIP.”

Ravi Jadhav, a popular film personality who won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi in 2009, found the news.

Ashwini was active on the Marathi circuit, whether it is film, theatre or stage. She was last seen show on Colors’ TV.