“The last time we sat together Waiting for a flight I remember I’d said,

‘There must be another way Of living this life!’

For a long time You remained silent

Then, Without blinking Without turning Said,

‘There isn’t’

Today You are gone, and I’m still running…

Still trying To prove you wrong.”

-Deepti Naval’s SMITA AND I

“She was one of the very few people I know who possessed a kind of natural talent. As an artiste she had no training and yet her sense of timing , her natural understanding of drama, and her gift for humour - all these went to make her abundant work talent. Then, of course, her extraordinary good looks made an impact. From the conventional point of view you wouldn’t say she was terribly good looking. But, the moment she was in front of the camera, she was transformed. She could be just about anybody. But, more than anything her most remarkable quality was her tremendous straightforwardness.” -Shyam Benegal