He died at Belle Vue Clinic in Kolkata on Sunday after being there since October 6, the hospital’s chief, Pradip Tondon, told CNN. He initially tested positive for coronavirus, and complications from the disease contributed to his death. Despite being in the care of a team of 15 of the best doctors in the state of West Bengal, nothing could be done, Tondon added.
He played key roles in 14 of Ray’s films between 1959 and 1990, including the third installment of the acclaimed Apu Trilogy.
The actor’s daughter, Poulami Bose, said her family was “devastated” and asked her followers on Facebook to “say a prayer for his soul.”
“Shri Soumitra Chatterjee’s death is a colossal loss to the world of cinema, cultural life of West Bengal and India,” said India’s prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.
Other prominent Indian politicians followed suit in offering their condolences.
Amit Shah, the minister of home affairs, said he was “deeply pained” to learn of the death of the actor who “took Bengali cinema to new heights.”
India’s film fraternity also paid emotional tributes to a revered figure in their circles.
Hindi film star Manoj Bajpayee, a winner of prominent acting awards in India, said it was a “tragic loss” and that Chatterjee’s contribution to Indian cinema will “always be remembered and inspire the generations to come.”
Soha Ali Khan, an actress and daughter of former Indian cricket captain, Mansoor Ali Khan, posted two pictures on Instagram of Chatterjee with her mother, Sharmila Tagore, also an actress. Chatterjee and Tagore worked together on “Apur Sansar,” released in 1959, which was their debut film.
“We will miss you,” Khan wrote on of the posts.
CNN’s Niamh Kennedy contributed to this report.
Source : Nbcnewyork