Veteran Odia actor Uttam Mohanty died on Thursday at a private hospital in Delhi, where he had been airlifted to earlier this month.
Veteran Odia actor Uttam Mohanty died on Thursday night while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Delhi, his family said. He was 66.Mohanty had been suffering from acute liver ailments and was airlifted to Delhi from Bhubaneswar on February 8. He is survived by his renowned actor wife, Aparajita Mohanty, and son, Odia cine star Babushan.
Taking to X, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, “I am deeply saddened to know about the demise of Odisha’s popular actor Uttam Mohanty. His departure has created a huge void in the Odia art field. The impression he left in the Odia cinema will always keep him in the hearts of the audience. I pray for the eternal peace of his soul and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family.”
The CM also ordered that Mohanty’s last rites be conducted with full state honours.
Mohanty started his acting career with Odia film Abhimaan in 1977 and went on to work in over 130 films. His best performances were in films Nijhum Ratira Sathi (1979), Phula Chandana (1982), Jhiati Sita Pari (1983), and Danda Balunga (1984).
He had also worked in around 30 Bengali films and a Hindi movie, Naya Zaher. Mohanty also worked in a few TV serials, including Sara Akasha.Mohanty won the prestigious Jayadeb Puraskar in 1999, besides the Odisha Living Legend Award in 2012. He won the Best Actor at Odisha State Film Awards several times over the course of his career.