Rituparno Ghosh dead

National award winning eminent filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh passed away Thursday morning following a cardiac arrest, family sources said. He was 49.

He died at his residence around 7.30 a.m.

Colleagues and friends gathered at his home as the news spread. Bollywood filmmakers and actors expressed shock.

Born and brought up in Kolkata, Ghosh was the son of documentary filmmaker Sunil Ghosh.

He started his career in advertising. After making hundreds of ads, he went behind the camera in 1994 to direct his first film "Hirer Angti".

The filmmaker, who won 12 national awards in various categories, made movies like "Chokher Bali", "Unishe April", "Raincoat" and "The Last Lear".

His 2012 directional venture "Chitrangada" won him a special jury award at the 60th National Film Awards ceremony.

For "Arekti Premer Golpo", "Memories In March" and "Chitrangada", he faced the camera to show his acting skills.