She passed away at a young age, but her enigma remains. The talented Smita Patil, who acted in several Hindi and Marathi films in a short career, made an impact very few artistes have managed to in their lifetime. Iconic among them was Mirch Masala which discussed female empowerment and drew focus on its relevance in the country.

Smita Patil in a still from Shyam Benegal’s Bhoomika