27 July,2014 05:29 AM IST | | Shubha Shetty Saha
Low on confidence with her weight touching 122 kg, 57-yr-old actress had shunned the public eye for almost 8 yrs. She underwent successful bariatric surgery on Friday at Mumbai's Saifee Hospital
Reena Roy
Make hay while the sun shines. This adage describes the trajectory of stars who are revered by fans and filmmakers alike when they are young. But things take a different turn when they start ageing and movie offers dwindle. Matters get worse if a heroine, once known for her gorgeous face and svelte figure, shuns the media and prefers to stay behind closed doors as she becomes a shadow of her former glory due to a health issue.
In her heydays, Reena Roy delivered hits such as Asha and Nagin among other superhit films.
This was the case with yesteryear heartthrob Reena Roy. According to sources, the actor, who delivered hits such as Asha, Sanam Teri Kasam, Nagin and Kalicharan in 1970s and 1980s, underwent bariatric surgery on Friday afternoon to regain her former glory. She reportedly checked into Saifee hospital at Charni Road on Friday afternoon and the surgery was successful.
She stopped stepping out of her house post 2006 after she put on much weight
When contacted, Head, Department of Minimal Access and Bariatric Surgery at Saifee Hospital, Dr Muffazal Lakdawala confirmed that Roy had been admitted to the hospital under his supervision but refused to divulge further details. "She was admitted but I cannot reveal why," he told sunday mid-day.
Although Dr Muffazal Lakdawala confirmed Reena Roy had been admitted to Saifee Hospital, he refused to divulge the reason
Health issues
Roy, who debuted in 1972 and went on to act in Hindi cinema for the next 13 years, had become obese due to inactivity and a niggling health issue. After a hiatus, she returned to Bollywood as a character actor in the '90s. But a health issue kept her from working since 2000. After 2006-2007, Roy stopped stepping out of the house and attending events.
A source close to the Roy family said, "Reenaji has avoided being photographed since several years. She wants the world to know her as she was and not what she is now. Over the last couple of years, her sister Barkha had been requesting her to undergo bariatric surgery done under the supervision of their family friend and bariatric surgeon, Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, but Reenaji was hesitant. She finally complied now."
Roy, who was known as much for her beauty as for her acting chops and dancing skills was unavailable for comment. When contacted, her sister Barkha denied the surgery news. She said, "Dr Lakdawala is our neighbour and a family friend. My sister has gone just for a routine check-up. There is nothing more to it."
According to sources, Roy's popularity does not seem to have faded with time along with patients, she had many visitors at the hospital who were thrilled to have her amid them. They reportedly walked into her room to request her for autographs and photographs.
