Popular Odisha film actress Runu Parija dead

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Oct 25:

Popular comic actress of the Odisha film industry Sadhana Parija, better known as ‘Runu’, died of heart attack here on Friday. She was 52.

She suffered a heart stroke while watering her garden at her house in Bidanasi here and was immediately rushed to the SCB Medical College Hospital. But she died on the way to the hospital, reports said.

Runu is survived by her husband, leading film director Himanshu (Chandi) Parija, and her daughter. She is the sister-in-law of top film director and actor Hara Pattnaik.

Having started her career with the Annapurna Theatre, Runu entered the world of Odia films with ‘Batasi Jhada’ and went on to act in nearly 80 films. She formed a highly popular pair with comic actor Jayi and regaled audiences with her wonderful comic timing.

She won the award as best supporting actress for her performance in the film “Laxman Rekha’.

Runu also acted in several television serials, come of the most popular being ‘Tapasya’ on ETV and ‘Tosha nohila Mo Chitta’ on Doordarshan.

A pall of gloom has descended on the film fraternity in Odisha with the untimely demise of Runu. The Who’s Who of the Odia film industry reached her home to pay their last respects to the departed actress.