Lillete Dubey is an Indian actress and theatre director. Her film experience ranges from Indian theatre, television and films to International theatre to English television and movies. Lillete is best known for her acting in the films Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), and Zubeidaa (2001), among numerous films, TV shows and theatre productions. Lillete started her own theatre company named The Primetime Theatre Company, of which she has remained the Artistic Director for over 32 years.
Wiki/Biography
Lillete Dubey was born on Monday, 7 September 1953 (age 70 years; as of 2023), in Pune, Maharashtra. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. After Lillete’s birth, her family made the move to Bikaner, and then to Lucknow. Lillete attended multiple schools throughout her education; her schooling started at the Loretto Convent in Lucknow and later moved on to the Rustom Boarding School in Pune, after which she attended the Carmel Convent in Delhi. Once her family moved back to Pune, she attended St. Mary’s during Class IX, which is when she made her foray into the field of acting. Lillete has an M.A. in English from Lady Shri Ram College for Women and a Master’s degree in Mass Communications from IIMC.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Weight (approx.): 55kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Body Measurements (approx.): 34-25-36
Lillete Dubey
Family & Caste
Lillete belongs to a Sindhi Hindu family from Pune.
Parents & Siblings
Her father, Gobind Keswani worked as an engineer with the Indian Railways. Her mother, Lila Keswani was a gynaecologist from Lady Harding, who went on to work with the Indian Army. Lillete describes her mother as an independent person and a feisty feminist, and her father as an artistic person who was a physicist by passion.
Lillete Dubey with her father Gobind Keswani
A young Lillete Dubey with her mother Lila Keswani
Lillete has two younger siblings; a sister, Lushin Dubey who is a stage actor and director in India, and the wife of distinguished academic, Pradeep Dubey. Her brother, Patu Keswani is the Chairman and Managing Director of Lemon Tree Hotels.
Lillete Dubey with her siblings Lushin Dubey and Patu Keswani
Husband & Children
Lillete and Ravi Dubey were married in 1978 when she was about 25 years old. Lillete bore two daughters, Neha and Ira Dubey before her husband died of pancreatic cancer in 2015. Ravi Dubey was also known to be the youngest-ever General Manager of the Taj Hotel on Mansigh Road. While both daughters have made their appearances in theatre, television and films, albeit for small roles, Neha Dubey is a psychotherapist in Mumbai, while her sister Ira has stuck to performing, and appears in web series as well.
Lillete Dubey with her daughters Neha and Ira Dubey
Relationships
Lillete Dubey remains a widow after the death of her husband Ravi Dubey, and there have been no reports of any other relationships.
Lillete Dubey with husband Ravi Dubey
Religion/Religious Views
Lillete Dubey follows Hinduism. However, she claims that she is not a very religious person. She states that her mother was very spiritual and her father was a rationalist. She might not be a very religious person, but she claims to have hen ways of connecting with the divine.
I believe there is more to us than just our physical being and in religious places, there is a collective spiritual energy. But I’m a person who loves going to shrines and temples also because of their architecture. For instance, I love going to churches to see their architecture.”
Career
Theatre
In 1991, she co-founded The Primetime Theatre Company, whose productions are well-enjoyed in India and theatres abroad. In the 1991 play Blithe Spirit, Lillete acted as the Lead, the director and the producer. She has done the same for such plays as Romantic Comedy (1991), Dance Like a Man (1995), On a Muggy Night in Mumbai (1998) and Salaam Noni Appa (2017) among numerous others. Her production “Dance Like a Man” is the longest-running Indian-English play.
Lillete Dubey in her longest-running production ‘Dance Like A Man’
Film
Lillete Dubey’s debut in Bollywood was with Love You Hamesha (1999). She entered the industry when she was 47 years and calls herself an “accidental film actor”. After her debut, she went on to work in several famous movies including The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), Housefull (2010), Dabba (The Lunchbox) (2013), and Dr Cabbie (2014). She has acted in films of various industries.
Lillete Dubey with Richard Gere in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Television
Lillete was a part of the first serial on National Network DD: Hum Log (1984), and the first English serial on Indian Television, A Mouthful of Sky (1984). Her other appearances on TV include Kabhi Kabhi (1997), Apna Apna Style (2000) and Star Wars: Visions (2023) among others.
The cast of Hum Log (1984)
Lillete Dubey’s character Rugal in Star Wars Visions (2023)
Web Series
Keeping up with the changes in the entertainment field, Lillete has acted in web series such as Yeh Crazy Dil (2018), Queen (2019) and Call My Agent (2021) etc.
Queen (2019) web series with Lillete Dubey
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- The Madrid International Film Festival of 2008 named her Best Actress for the film “Bow Barracks Forever (2004)”.
- The Dainik Jagran National Film Festival, 2010 named her the Best Actress for the film “Pankh (2010)”.
- The Simon Mabhunu Sabela Film and Television Awards, 2019, named her Best Actress for the film “3 Days to Go (2019)”.
- The Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards, 2012, named her Best Actress for her play Adhe Adhure.
- The Ayodhya Film Festival, 2020, named her Best Actress for Season’s Greetings.
Favourites
Facts/Trivia
- Lillete Dubey was born as Lillete Keswani.
- Lillete’s parents wanted her to become a physicist but she always had an affinity towards acting. She tried doing a Physics honours degree before she gave up.
- Lillete was named by her father, and the inspiration comes from her mother’s name, Leela, as Lillete sounds like ‘small Leela’, a name she claims to hate.