Sarat Pujari died of heart attack

Eminent odia actor Sarat Pujari is no more.

The veteran Ollywood actor, director and former president of Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy died of a massive heart attack early Monday morning at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

He was 81.

The actor is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons. His last rites would be held at the temple town of Puri, about 55 km from Bhubaneswar.

Pujari entered the Odia film industry in 1958 while serving as a teacher in a private college in western Odisha. He acted in about 50 films.

Tenth Odia film “Sri Sri Mahalaxmi Puja” was his debut film. Some of the famous Odia films in which Pujari acted as a hero include “Tapoi”, “Asanta Graha”, “Astaraga” and “Sadhana”.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and governor SC Jamir have expressed profound grief over the sad demise of Pujari.