"A dedicated and noble wife, always smiling,” says Bomi Dotiwala of wife and co-actor on the Parsi stage, Dolly, who passed away at the age of 80 on the morning of February 17, 2017. Bomi and Dolly were "popular singing stars before they caught the redoubtable (dramatist Adi) Marzban’s eye,” writes journalist Meher Mafatia in her 2011 book Laughter in the House – 20th century Parsi theater. First seen on stage in the 1961 musical revue Dhong Song (Pretence) and then as dramatic actors in Sagan ké Vagan (Auspicious or inauspicious), the couple acted in 30 plays and 12 variety revues together, notes Bomi, in conversation with Parsiana on March 21, 2017. "The only tragedy we attempted was Asha Nirasha (Hope and despair) but it closed after eight shows… the public loved us in comedies.” Writing in her tome, Marfatia reveals that Bomi "has carefully preserved the high-power glasses he wore on stage as the aged husband outliving wife Dolly” from that tragedy. The couple made the transition to television in the early 1970s with Marzban’s shows "Aavo mari saathé (Come with me)” and "Kévi mari Dolly tu (What a woman you are, Dolly).”
Having known each other since 1948 when they were school children, Bomi remembers going for tuitions together. "Aapra lafra chaaltata (our flirtations were going on),” he laughs, adding that they had "helpers” to pass love notes between them. Married in 1961, Bomi remembers taking cycle rides ("it was a British-made cycle with a very loud bell”) with Dolly in their Nowroz Baug colony and whisking her off to Juhu Beach on his Lambretta ("rented for Rs 4 an hour”). The actor breaks down for less than 30 seconds when Parsiana asks him how he really feels: "I’m feeling lonely… missing my Dinki very much,” he says, voice only slightly aquiver. Two days later he was back in the magazine’s office to share memorabilia of their joint career.
Bomi and Dolly had rehearsed for seven hours on the day prior to her passing away for the show Laughter in the House 2, Bomi states. They were to appear together on February 19 at the opening night of that musical revue. Bomi participated in the show within hours of Dolly’s uthamna, and even sang an old Parsi favorite "Tehmina, tu paachhi aav (Tehmina, come back)” which may have struck a sentimental note with the audience (see "Hilarity in the house,” Parsiana, March 7, 2017).