Veteran Bengali actor Swatilekha Sengupta, known for her versatility and powerful acting 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.
The actor has excelled in academics and music as well. Her contribution to Indian theatre as an actress has earned her the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Members of the television and theatre community have termed Swatilekha's death as a "great loss." She used to create stage plays for theatrical productions and with her dedication and talent, Swatilekha has made an incomparable contribution to Bengali theatre.
Born in 1950 in Allahabad, Swatilekha is best known for her role in Satyajit Ray's 1984 film Ghare Baire. However, the first time Ray saw Swatilekha perform was in a brief role in Shambhu Mitra’s ‘Galileo’. When ‘Ghare Baire’ was released, Satyajit Ray had called her an intelligent actress.
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Later, Swatilekha acted in Onir’s Hindi production ‘Chauranga’. Onir said that he has loved her in Ghare Baire but was scared to approach her for his film Chauranga as her role in the film was just a special appearance. “She was kind enough to agree. Later, I told her about wanting to cast her as a 70-year-old woman evicted from her village in my Hindi film Three Lives,” said Onir.
Thirty years after Ghare Baire Swatilekha was paired with Soumitra Chatterjee for Belaseshe. The film was a box-office success.
In Raj Chakraborty’s Dharmayuddha, she played a character that represents India and is secular. The film was to be released on April 3, 2020, however got postpones due to a coronavirus pandemic. The film is finally scheduled to release on August 13, 2021. “My regret is I could not show the film to her,” said Chakraborty while paying tribute to her.
With being an amazing actor, Swatilekha also directed ‘Football’ in Hindi. She has adapted directed short plays like Pakhi, Dulia and Tomar Naam. She established herself as a director with Nandikar’s major success Madhabi.
Besides, Swatilekha had an interest in music. She has studied music from London's Trinity College and had played a Beethoven piece.
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."