Bhubaneswar: Veteran Odia actor Ajit Das’s last rites were performed at Satya Nagar crematorium here Monday.
He was accorded with full state honours.
His last rites were performed following Hindu rituals and with strict adherence to all COVID-19 norms. The actor’s daughter lit the pyre of her father.
Das breathed his last while undergoing treatment at a Bhubaneswar based private COVID hospital. He was 71.
He is survived by his wife Maya Das and three daughters.
He was born in Mayurbhanj district’s Karanjia town January 20, 1949. An NSDian, Das got his first break in the film Sindura Bindu in 1976 in a negative role. Sisir Misra was the director of the film and the film featured Prashan Nanda, Sriram Panda, Sujata and Tripura Mishra among others.
Later on he became a household name for giving some super hit movies like Punar Milan, Pipasha, Sandhya Tara, Aahuti Tapasya, Abhiman, Tike Hasa Tike Luha, Balidaan, Hakim Babu, etc.
The Arindam-Elina starrer Ishq Punithare was his last film.
He had also worked as the head of the department of drama at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya.
He was also active in theatre plays. He had founded a theatre institution in the name of Abhinaya Jagruti Institute of Theatre (AJIT) and had been organising theatre workshops and theatre festivals.
PNN