Shared rare friendship with Soumitra Chatterjee, his loss is huge: Sharmila Tagore

Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore finds it difficult to come to terms with iconic Bengali star Soumitra Chatterjee''s demise, as with him, she has lost one of her oldest friendships, which began when she was a teenr. Chatterjee, 85, died on Sunday after over-a-month-long battle with post COVID ailments.

legendary actor was mitted to hospital on October 6 after he tested positive for infection. He was later shifted to ICU as COVID encephalopathy set in, affecting his central nervous system and causing renal dysfunction. He recovered from infection subsequently, but his condition did t improve.

Tagore and Chatterjee began ir career with filmmaker Satyajit Ray''s final installment of "Apu" trilogy, "Apur Sansar" in 1959.

y later featured in acclaimed films, including Ray''s 1960 directorial "Devi", filmmaker Ajoy Kar''s drama "Barnali" (1963) and "Aranyer Din Ratri" in 1970.

In an interview with PTI, Tagore, 75, said she still hasn''t processed loss of Chatterjee, with whom she shared a connection beyond films.

which was organic, n-judgmental and existed beautifully without need to prove a point.

"I was 13 years old and he was 10 years elder to me when we started working in ''Apur Sansar.'' In film, those beautiful dialogues that we spoke to each or also endeared us to each or. That was beginning. I really respected, mired him and for what he stood for. He was one of my oldest friends, after my husband Tiger (cricket legend Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi) and actor Shashi Kapoor. He has been such a loyal and fun friend," she ded.

Tagore said Chatterjee''s n-judgmental nature only strengned ir relationship.

ir bond, as she described, wasn''t transactional.

"We could le our parallel lives and yet have a connection, somewhere because our thoughts, depth and loyalty was same. Soumitra knew I''d never speak ill of him. re was questioning of what we shared, we didn''t have to prove it. If I didn''t talk to him or if he didn''t talk to me, I wouldn''t feel ''Oh God he hasn''t wished me, he doesn''t remember my birthday.'' It was just so organic. I can''t give it any name."

multiple National award winning star said y grew fond of each or over similarity in way y viewed world.

One of her most cherished memories with star were ir wide-ranging discussions on everything under sun.

Chatterjee was a wonderful companion, Tagore said, which ensured that ir banter would be endless. Sometimes he would understand her point of view, or times she would agree with his belief, she recounted.

"We would talk for hours on sports, history, our vision of India. I find him irreplaceable that way because re''s body else I can share so much with. If I expressed a certain point of view, he''d agree and expand or shoot it down and give his reasons. That kind of friendship is so rare. To lose that is huge."

Tagore ted his personality was so well-rounded, it reflected in all aspects of his life. She recalled shooting for Ray''s "Aranyer Din Ratri", where she shared a bungalow with Chatterjee and her or co-star, Subhendu Chatterjee.

One of Tagore''s strongest memories of ir time toger is of her sipping her morning coffee and listening to actor sing outside while doing yoga. "Soumitra''s interests went beyond acting," she said. "He would paint, sing, was well re, h immense kwledge of atre, he would write poetries and short stories for his grandchildren. His interests were vast and that''s what me him who he was - a man of all interests, a powerhouse talent. "I kw he will live forever in our memories because his legacy is so immense. It encompasses so much," she ded.

Chatterjee is survived by wife Deepa Chatterjee, daughter Poulomi Basu and son Sougata Chatterjee.

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