Veteran Odisha actress Gloria Mohanty is dead

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Dec 12:

Popular Ollywood actress and yesteryear glamour girl Gloria Mohanty passed away at a Nursing home in Odisha’s Cuttack city late Thursday night.

She was 83 and was suffering from protracted illness.

Born on June 27, 1932 at Matha Sahi in Tulasipur area of Cuttack city, Gloria began her career as an accredited singer of Akashvani Kendra, Cuttack. Later, she left the job and concentrated on acting in the Odia movies.

Her role as Lalita in her debut movie ‘Jagannath’ had brought her immense popularity in the state.

She acted in many Odia movies, some of the most notable among them being Taapoi, Ulka, Sakshi Gopinath, Paribara, Kedara Gouri, Tapasya, Janani and Maa.

After staying away from Ollywood for nearly 18 years, she had come back with a bang in a series of super hit movies like Barsa My Darling, Prathama Prema, Shasughara Chalijibi, Premi Number One, Oh My Love, Mahanayaka, Neijare Megha Mate. Her role as a grandmother in the last named brought her laurels.

Apart from movies, Mohanty had also acted in Odia tele serials like Jibaku Debi Nahi, Thakura Ghara, Sara Akasha and Panata Kani.

In recognition of her profound contribution to Odia movies, she was conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Jayadev Award by the state government in 1992.

Not many proplr know that Mohanty was also a promising athlete in her younger days with a penchant for horse riding and cycling and had represented the state volleyball team from 1957 to 1960.

Following the news of her death, well-known Ollywood stars including Anubhav, Kuna Tripathy, Deepa Sahu and producers rushed to Mohanty’s residence to have a last glimpse of the departed soul.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik also deeply condoled Mohanty’s death.