Odisha mourns demise of album queen Deepa Sahu

Bhubaneswar:  Condolences started pouring in from different quarters soon after Odia actress Deepa Sahu passed away loosing her battle against cancer. The Album Queen breathed her last at a private hospital here at 4.02 pm.

While many of her co-stars rushed to the hospital, several others, including political leaders took to social media platforms to pay their last respect to the departed soul.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his deep grief and said the actress’ death is an irreparable loss for Odisha’s album industry .

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅଭିନେତ୍ରୀ ଦୀପା ସାହୁଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ । ବିଶେଷତଃ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଆଲବମ୍ ଜଗତରେ ସେ ତାଙ୍କ କଳାର ନିଖୁଣ ଛାପ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଅନେକ ଦର୍ଶକଙ୍କୁ ବାନ୍ଧି ରଖିପାରିଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଆଲବମ୍ ଜଗତରେ ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତି ଘଟିଲା ।

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 27, 2020

Mourning her death, actor Sabyasachi Mishra said, “She was one of the most successful actress who brought revolution in Odia Album industry. May her soul rest in peace.”

Another Sad News as our very dear Deepa Sahu left us alone today at 4:02pm. She was fighting with cancer.
She was one of the most successful actress who brought revolution in Odia Album industry. May her soul rest in peace 🙏 #RIPdeepa #Deepasahu #ollywood #odisha pic.twitter.com/pQObswWS58

— SABYASACHI MISHRA 🇮🇳 (@sabyaactor) July 27, 2020

Actor Sritam Das said, “She was the face of the evergreen Odia album ‘Hai hai to malli phula gajara’. Apart from professional relationship, I had a very good bonding with her. She was a fighter as she never surrendered in the battle against the deadly disease till her last breath.”

Expressing condolence, actress-turned-politician Elina Dash said the actress was a popular face for Odia album industry and her contribution to the field is incomparable.

Elina said “She was suffering from the deadly disease for the last two and a half years. In her first stage of cancer,  she was admitted to Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai and had returned to Odisha after recovery.  When her condition started deteriorating, we were unable to take her to Mumbai due to COVID-19 lockdown. Later, she was admitted to Capital Hospital and later shifted to AIIMS Hospital here. Due to the pandemic situation, she was again shifted to a private hospital,”

Women and Child Welfare Department Minister Tukuni Sahu took to Twitter to condole the actress’ death.

ଓଡିଆ ଆଲବମ ଅଭିନେତ୍ରୀ ଦୀପା ସାହୁକଂ ଦେହାନ୍ତରେ ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ.. ତାକଂ ଅମର ଅତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି… pic.twitter.com/fXc5OUSAxq

— Tukuni Sahu (@TukuniSahu) July 27, 2020

Actor-turned BJP leader Akhil Pattnaik also expressed deep grief and said the actress was popular not only for albums but also for her works in several Odia films. “She knows how to portray a character. We tried a lot to save her but lost the battle.”

Actress Bidusmita, who rushed to the hospital soon after her death, said, “Deepa was like my elder sister. I frequently visited the hospital for her mental support.  We recently lost legendary actor Bijay sir and I wonder how darker this year could get.”