Veteran Odia film actor Ajit Das passed away on Sunday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital. The 71-year-old actor had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to his family members, Das had a fever for a week. He took a COVID-19 test last Saturday and his results came back positive on last Monday night. The actor’s wife Maya Das has also tested positive for COVID-19. The couple was admitted to hospital on Tuesday. They had also asked all those who came in contact with them to quarantine themselves for a week.
Born in Mayurbhanj district in 1949, Das started his film career in 1976 with the movie Sindura Bindu. An alumnus of National School of Drama (NSD), Das had acted in more than 60 Odia films. He had also produced numerous plays.
Condolences have poured in from Odia film fraternity. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi and various other leaders condoled the demise of Das. Describing late Ajit Das as a great genius, the CM Patnaik said that he had left an indelible mark in Odia film industry as a versatile actor and director.
“A former head of the department of drama at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Ajit Das’ demise has created a great void in Odia film industry which will take years to fill. Das will continue to live in the hearts of innumerable cine lovers of Odisha,” he added.
