Indian Veteran Actor Santu Mukhopadhyay Dies of Cardiac Arrest at 69

Veteran Bengali actor Santu Mukhopadhyay, renowned for his role in films such as Sansar Simante and Bhalobasa Bhalobasa, died at his southern residence in Kolkata on Wednesday night after prolonged illness.

Mukhopadhyay, 69, died of cardiac arrest at 7:30 pm.

Santu Mukhopadhyay had been suffering from carcinoma for a long time and was admitted to the hospital on 4 February with blood pressure and hypertension. In the last week of February, he was released and brought to home.

A favorite of directors like Tapan Sinha, Tarun Majumder, and Goutam Ghosh, Santu Mukhopadhyay has survived his sons, actress Swastika Mukherjee, and fashion designer Ajopa Mukherjee.

Born in Kolkata in 1951, Mukhopadhyay demonstrated his status at the beginning of his 20s in films such as Sansar Simante and Raja by Tarun Majumder and Tapan Sinha, respectively.

He soon became a known face on the big screen with films like Ganadevata and Byapika Biday.

His other notable plays covering more than four decades included Bhalobasa Bhalobasa, Hemanter Pakhi, Dadamoni, and Baikunther Will.

Santu Mukhopadhyay was also a famous little computer picture. He appeared in soaps such as Isthi Kutum, Jol Nupur and Andarmahal. Despite his declining fitness, he continued to work.

West Bengal Minister Aroop Biswas visited the Mukhopadhyay residence and gave his condolences to the mourning family.

Director Kaushik Ganguly, in whose film Brakefail Mukhopadhyay essayed a key role, said, "It's a personal loss to me.