KOLKATA: It is a sad day for Bollywood and the Bengali film industry, as another veteran actor has left us for his heavenly abode. Legendary screen and stage artist Haradhan Bandopadhyay passed away on Saturday, succumbing to a brief and deadly illness.

The yesteryear actor, who had featured in many films by classic filmmaker Satyajit Ray, was 86 and is survived by his wife and two sons. Bandopadhyay passed away peacefully in a Kolkata hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia.

Bandopadhyay noted films include ‘Mahanagar’, ‘Sakha Prashakha’, ‘Sonar Kella’ and ‘Jai Baba Felunath’, directed by Oscar-winning Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray of ‘Pather Panchali’ fame. Bandopadhyay also worked with other renowned directors like Mrinal Sen and Ray’s son Sandip.

Haradhan Bandopadhyay’s most recent role was as Priyanka Chopra’s character Jhilmil’s ‘daju’ (elder brother) in the Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer ‘Barfi!’, directed by Anurag Basu.

The actor was felicitated with an award ‘Banga Vibhushan’ in 2012 by the Bengal government for his outstanding contribution to cinema and the arts.

Mourning the loss, Priyanka Chopra tweeted: “Woke up to the saddest news. the wonderful actor who played Jhilmil’s Daju in Barfi Mr #HaradhanBanerjee passed away..RIP sir..u blessed us..”

Noted Bengali film personalities too displayed their grief. Sandip said, “It is sad news and an irreparable loss to the film industry. It is difficult to find an actor of his capability at his age.”Actor Soumitra Chatterjee said, “It is difficult to express the loss. We have worked together at the AIR before coming to the film world.”