Veteran Bengali actor Debraj Roy, who worked with Satyajit Ray, passes away at 69

Veteran Bengali actor Debraj Roy passed away on Thursday night at a private hospital in Kolkata following multiple organ failure. The well-known newsreader was battling serious illnesses for several months, according to hospital authorities. Roy was 69.

Debraj Roy had suffered a cerebral attack a few months ago and was dealing with nephrological problems as well. The veteran actor is survived by his wife, Anuradha Roy, a fellow Bengali actress and popular newsreader.

Apart from being an acclaimed actor, Debraj Roy was a legendary figure in Doordarshan. He made his cinematic debut in Satyajit Ray’s Pratidwandi (1970) and became a household name with his stellar performance in Mrinal Sen’s Calcutta 71 (1971). Throughout his illustrious career, he worked with celebrated directors — Tarun Majumdar, Bibhuti Laha, Tapan Sinha— leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

Roy’s body is to be brought from his residence in Salt Lake for cremation on Friday.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her grief over Roy's death and extended her condolences to his family members and friends.

"Saddened by the demise of actor Debraj Roy. An actor who made our eminent directors proud, he was also a popular news reader on Doordarshan. I knew him well as a good man from Bhawanipore and feeling very sad by this loss. My condolences to his family members and friends. Our cultural world stands diminished today," Banerjee wrote on X.