Veteran Bengali actor and politician Joy Banerjee passes away at 62, after suffering from respiratory issues

Trigger warning: This article contains mention of death.Veteran Bengali actor and politician Joy Banerjee passed away at the age of 62 on Monday, August 25. He had been hospitalized for the past ten days and was battling long-term respiratory illness and diabetes.Banerjee, who had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), was admitted to a Kolkata hospital on August 15. After a brief discharge, his condition worsened, and he was placed on a ventilator on August 17. According to his secretary, he passed away at 11:35 a.m. The secretary also revealed: “He was admitted to a private hospital on August 15. Then, he was discharged on the next day. Later, his condition started deteriorating. On August 17, he was put on ventilation. He died today at 11:35 a.m,” as reported by IANS.The late Joy Banerjee transitioned from a successful film career to politics. He was an active member of a political party from 2014 to 2021, even contesting the West Bengal elections, but eventually resigned and stated he would no longer be a representative.Born on May 25, 1963, Joy Banerjee debuted in the entertainment industry in 1982 with 'Aparupa' alongside Debashree Roy. Making an indelible mark on the cinematic world, he starred as the lead in many films such as ‘Hirak Jayanti’, ‘Milan Tithi’ and many more. Banerjee’s performance in the film ‘Chopper’ was especially appreciated by the audience. The ‘Bidrohi’ actor had tied the knot with Trinamool Congress Councillor Ananya Banerjee, but the marriage did not last long.Banerjee's assistant stated that several politicians visited him while he was hospitalized. The details of his funeral are still being discussed and have not yet been announced.