This US Citizen Indian Actor's Fiancé Died Of Cancer, She Raised An Adopted Daughter

This actress, who is an India-born US citizen, got separated from her husband within two years of marriage and found love again in a co-actor who died due to cancer.

Veteran actress Deepti Naval, has made a mark on the hearts of millions with her remarkable performances in films like 'Chashme Buddoor,' 'Katha,' 'Saath Saath,' ‘Ankahi,’ and many more. The 72-year-old-India-born US citizen began her acting career in 1978 with the film ‘Junoon," and soon became a prominent figure in parallel cinema. 

Deepti and Prakash Jha's marriage

Born on February 3, 1952, to Uday C. Naval and Himadri Naval, Deepti was expected by her father to follow in his footsteps as a painter. However, Deepti chose acting as her career. When her father got a job at a university in New York, the family relocated there. After spending ten years in New York, Deepti returned to India to embark on a new chapter in her life in the Hindi film industry. It was during this time that she met filmmaker Prakash Jha, and the two fell in love. 

In 1985, Deepti and Prakash Jha tied the knot and adopted a daughter, Disha Jha. Unfortunately, their marriage ended two years later, although they officially divorced in 2002, 15 years after separating. 

Deepti found love in Vinod Pandit but lost him to cancer

After her separation from Prakash Jha, Deepti found love again in actor Vinod Pandit. They worked together on the television series ‘Thoda Sa Aasmaan.’ Vinod passed away from cancer. 

Talking about her relationship with Vinod, Deepti told Subhash Jha, “I was completely tied down in my relationship with Vinod Pandit. Even when he fell ill with cancer he brought out the best in me. After he came into my life, I had my first painting exhibition. He also encouraged me to resume photography and to write. He played my husband in my serial Thodasa Aasman. Vinod and I traveled together often. We would go off to the hills of New York. I think I was running away from doing roles like Guddu (where I played Shah Rukh Khan’s mother). I was in love. He was just as adventurous as me. We would earn some money, spend it on a holiday and come back again. We were engaged for years. We were scared to marry, we didn’t want the romance to die out. We both had gone through failed marriages. I had to return to acting to pay for the hospital bills.” 

Deepti runs a trust in her late boyfriend Vinod's name and remains active in her acting career. She was last seen in ‘Goldfish’ also starring Kalki Koechlin.