Remembering Sushma Swaraj: An empathetic leader who often rescued Indians stuck overseas

Supriya Devi: Veteran Bengali film actress Supriya Devi, who reached legendary heights for her portrayal of the protagonist Neeta in Ritwik Ghatak's cult movie 'Meghe Dhaka Tara', passed away at 85. She had suffered a massive cardio-respiratory failure. She is survived by her daughter and three grandchildren. Apart from an illustrious career in Bengali cinema, she also acted in a few Hindi films like 'Begaana', 'Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein' and 'Aap Ke Parchhaiyan'. Known for her beauty and sharp features, she made her acting debut as a 7-year-old in two plays directed by her father Gopal Chandra Banerjee, and forayed into films in 1952 playing a side part in the Uttam Kumar starrer 'Basu Paribar'.

(In Pic: Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee with famous dancer Amala Sankar (L) and eminent actress Supriya Devi (R) during 54th Annual Railway National Awards function in Science City Auditorium Kolkata.)

Bollywood’s first female superstar, Sridevi was found dead in the bathroom of a hotel in Dubai where she had been visiting for a family wedding. An autopsy report later established that the 54-year-old actress passed away following a cardiac arrest. Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan, she started acting at 4, appearing in several Tamil films in the 60’s and 70’s, and eventually dropping out of school for a career in the movies. She acted in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films, opposite leading men like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. She made her Bollywood debut in 1979 with 'Solva Sawan', but it was in 1983, with 'Sadma' that she made her mark in the Hindi film industry. She charmed audiences with films like 'Chandni' & 'Lamhe', drawing praise for her comic timing in 'Chaalbaaz' & 'Mr India'. The actress made a successful return to the big screen in 'English Vinglish'. Her last screen appearance was in 'Mom' which released in 2017.

Veteran actress Shammi Aunty passed away at the age of 89. She had worked in many popular films like ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, ‘Dil’ and so on. At 18 she signed her first film ‘Ustad Pedro’ in 1949. Actor- producer Sheikh Mukhtar had discovered Shammi when he was, and it was on his advice that she changed her (screen) name to Shammi from Nargis.

Hubert de Givenchy, the aristocratic French fashion designer whose understated style represented a golden age of elegance, passed away at the age of 91. Couturier to Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy Onassis, he breathed his last at the Renaissance chateau near Paris that he shared with his partner and fellow designer, Philippe Venet. He learned his trade from another fashion master, Cristóbal Balenciaga. The Givenchy label was sold to the LVMH luxury group in 1988 but Givenchy remained head of creative design for seven years.

Narendra Jha, 55, known for his work in films like 'Raees', 'Haider' and 'Kaabil' among others, passed away due to a massive heart attack. Born in Madhubani district of Bihar, Jha started his career in the television industry and became a known face with shows like 'Begusarai', 'Ek Ghar Banaunga', 'Supercops vs Supervillains' and others. He ventured into Bollywood with the 2012 film 'Funtoosh'.

Stephen William Hawking (1942 - 2018) was the former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and author of 'A Brief History of Time'. In 1963, Hawking contracted motor neurone disease and was given two years to live. From 1979 to 2009, he held the post of Lucasian Professor at Cambridge, the chair held by Isaac Newton in 1663. He received over a dozen honorary degrees and was awarded the CBE in 1982. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the US National Academy of Science. Hawking is regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Einstein.

The Stockholm-born Tim Bergling, was better known by his stage name, Avicii. The Swedish DJ, remix artist and record producer was nominated twice for a Grammy Award, once for his work on 'Sunshine' with David Guetta in 2012 and once for his song 'Levels' in 2013. He passed away on 20 April in Muscat, at the age of 28, and the; cause of his death has been identified as suicide.

Fashion designer and businesswoman, Kate Spade, was born in 1962 in Kansas City, Missouri. She launched her own line of Kate Spade handbags in 1993, and the company expanded to include numerous retail outlets and selling its products through high-end stores. Spade sold the remaining shares of her company in 2006, but later resurfaced with a new fashion brand. She was found dead in her New York apartment from an apparent suicide on June 5 earlier this year.

Anthony Bourdain, or Anthony Michael Bourdain, born on June 25, 1956, New York City, was an American chef, author, and television personality who helped popularise the 'foodie' culture in the early 21st century through his books and television programs. Raised in New Jersey, Bourdain first took an interest in food when he ate an oyster as a young boy on a trip to France with his family. After his article 'Don’t Read Before Eating This' appeared in ‘The New Yorker’ to raving reviews in 1997, Bourdain moved from one high-profile culinary project to the next, including TV shows 'A Cook’s Tour' and 'Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations'. He also wrote several books, including 'Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly'. Bourdain was found dead in his hotel room in France on June 8, from a reported suicide.