Legendary Indian actor and star of Bengali cinema Soumitra Chatterjee has died from COVID-19 complications.
Born on January 19, 1935, Chatterjee died on Sunday at a hospital in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal, where he had been undergoing treatment for nearly a month.
“We declare with a heavy heart that Soumitra Chattopadhyay (Chatterjee) breathed his last at 12:15 local time at Belle Vue Clinic today (November 15). We pay our homage to his soul,” reads an official statement.
Chatterjee had tested positive for COVID-19 on October 6.
Media reports said he had been under medical care and was facing secondary infections due to the COVID-19 repercussions.
“In the last few days, Chatterjee’s condition had deteriorated and he was on a ventilator,” an official added.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Chatterjee’s death is a colossal loss to the world of cinema and cultural life of India.
“Shri Soumitra Chatterjee’s death is a colossal loss to the world of cinema, cultural life of West Bengal and India. Through his works, he came to embody Bengali sensibilities, emotions and ethos. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” Mr Modi tweeted.
Chatterjee is best known for his collaborations with Oscar-winning film director Satyajit Ray, with whom he worked in 14 films.
