HomeNewsTrendsHealthVeteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee dies after battle with COVID-19

Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee dies after battle with COVID-19

Chatterjee recovered from the infection, but his condition did not improve as he suffered from multiple ailments, including neurological complications, according to a statement issued by the hospital, where he was undergoing treatment.

November 15, 2020 / 14:00 IST

Legendary Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee died on November 15 after over a-month-long battle with multiple ailments. The thespian is survived by wife, a son and a daughter.

The iconic actor was admitted to the hospital on October 6 after he tested positive for COVID-19. Chatterjee recovered from the infection, but his condition did not improve as he suffered from multiple ailments, including neurological complications, according to a statement issued by the hospital, where he was undergoing treatment.

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"We declare with heavy heart that Shri Soumitra Chattopadhyay breathed his last at 12.15 pm at Belle Vue Clinic today (15 November 2020). We pay our homage to his soul," the hospital said in its statement.

Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1935, Chatterjee, spent his early years in Krishnanagar in Nadia district where he completed his schooling. He did his masters in Bengali literature from Calcutta University.

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Chatterjee was introduced to acting through family stage plays by his grandfather and father, a lawyer, both amateur theatre actors. A play by Bengali theatre doyen Sisir Bhaduri was a turning point for Chatterjee, making him realise that he wanted to be an actor.

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On August 9, 1958, he reached the sets of Apur Sansar for his first day of shooting. There was no looking back after that and he became an integral part of Bengal's art and cultural life with his movies.

In his career, Chatterjee acted in 14 Ray films and over 300 others. He made his presence felt on the stage too as actor, playwright and director.

(With inputs from PTI)

Moneycontrol News
first published: Nov 15, 2020 01:02 pm

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