Veteran actress Navnindra Behl, celebrated for her remarkable contributions to Indian theatre, film and television, died peacefully during her sleep on March 16 2026, at 76 years of age. Her passing marks the end of an era.

The actress Navnindra Behl dedicated her entire professional life to showcasing her skills in multiple acting roles. Her performance as Kangana Ranaut’s grandmother in Queen established her as a popular actress. Her filmography includes important parts in both Maachis and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, which established her as a skilled character actress. The popular series Ishqbaaaz made her a famous television actress because viewers and critics recognised her exceptional acting ability.

Navnindra displayed her acting talent in international films while she also worked in Indian movies. Her dedication to acting for multiple decades resulted in her recognition as an actress who performed in both theatre and film.

Navnindra came from an artistic family background. She married Lalit Behl, who worked as both an actor and director, before his death from COVID-19 complications in 2021. The film and theatre fraternity mourned her loss, with tributes pouring in from notable industry figures like Anurag Kashyap and Ranvir Shorey, celebrating her legacy and the indelible mark she left on Indian cinema and theatre.

Nakuul Mehta took to social media handle and wrote, “The beauty of long running television shows is that they sometimes give you the opportunity to spend time with people who may have existed in worlds very different from yours until then..and then, almost magically, they end up shaping a significant part of who you were during those years. And long after the experience ends, some of what they stood for continues to find a home within you.

We spent so many days sharing a set floor and many lunches over the three years we worked together on Ishqbaaaz. I’d often complain about the boring sabzis (read: lauki, karela) she’d bring, and she would continue to insist that we try her food. She didn’t give up. I never gave in.

My earliest memory of her was filming my very first scene with her on Ishqbaaaz at around midnight in Turbhe. A solemn moment between the matriarch and her grandson. There was something about her presence that made you feel so present in every scene. She liked rehearsals. So did I. It was a match written in the stars. I say so because in television, rarely do you have the discipline and mostly the time… for multiple rehearsals.

She came from the rich tradition of Punjabi theatre. She wrote, directed and produced in her time, but never for once brought that heft onto set. She had more years in the business than the entire ensemble put together, but may have been the lightest co-actor to work with. Only sometimes complaining about the crazy schedules of television. Okay, often 🙂

I’d quite often drop her back home if we packed up at the same time, and those drives are some of my fondest memories of her. She’d be excited about writing back to every audience member who messaged her on Instagram (she embraced technology). She was thrilled about collaborating with Vishal Bhardwaj. She spoke so fondly of her husband and their love story, and mostly of her son, @kanubehl, and the wonderful filmmaker she believed he was.

We kept in touch over the years much after the show ended, and @jank_ee and I had the good fortune of celebrating her on her 75th birthday in October 2024.

I doubt I ever called her Maam! None of us did. It was always Dadi.

We will miss you, Dadi.”