Bengali actor Swatilekha Sengupta dies at 71 battling kidney ailment

Swatilekha Sengupta, a theatre personality and actor, died at the age of 71. She had been suffering from kidney problems for the previous 25 days and died at a private hospital in Kolkata. Her most famous role was in Satyajit Ray's 1984 film Ghare Baire. Her contribution to Indian theatre as an actress has earned her the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

In the 2015 film Bela Sheshe, she reunited with her Ghare Baire co-star Soumitra Chatterjee. In the next film Bela Shuru, both actors are set to reprise their roles. Soumitra died of Covid-19-induced encephalopathy in November of last year.

Members of the television and theatre community have termed Swatilekha's death as a "great loss." Swatilekha and her husband Rudraprasad Sengupta have made an incomparable contribution to Bengali theatre. She used to create stage plays for theatrical productions.

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Sohini Sengupta, Rudraprasad and Swatilekha's only daughter, is also a well-known Bengali actress. “My mother was a wonderful person and artist. Her accomplishments will be remembered. Exceptional student. She was a gold medallist in her profession. Sohini remarked, "She helped a lot of people."