Bengali actor Swarup Dutta passes away at 78

Kolkata: Noted Bengali actor Swarup Dutta died in a city hospital on Wednesday morning.

He was 78 years old and is survived by his wife and actor son Sharon. He was suffering from age-related ailments.

Condoling Dutta's death Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: "Saddened by the death of Swarup Dutta who died in the city on Wednesday. He was 78 years old. He had acted in Bengali and Hindi films for three decades. His acting in Aaapanjan directed by Tapan Sinha in 1968 left a deep impact on the audience. His death will create an irreparable loss in Bengali film industry. My condolences to his relatives and admirers."

Dutta came in contact with Utpal Dutta during his school days. Inspired by him he acted in his troupe.

His first break came in Tapan Sinha's Aaapanjan (1968). The film was set against the political turmoil in Bengal in the 1960s.

His co-actors in the film were Samjit Bhanja, Chaya Devi, Sumita Sanyal and Bhanu Bandyopadhyay. Based on Aapanjan , Gulzar directed his first film Mere Apne in 1971 starring Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha and Meena Kumari. He will be remembered for his roles in Sagina Mahato. Sagina Mahato was directed by Tapan Sinha starring Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu, Sumita Sanyal and Bhanu Bandyopadhyay. The story was based on a labour movement in the tea gardens in 1942-43. Dutta had acted in popular Bengali films like Harmonium, Pita Putra and Maa o Meye.