Bhubaneswar: Can anyone but an actor understands another actor’s feelings and sufferings ?
Perhaps no.
Dharitri Khandual, a well known theatre and serial actress who is also chairman of Dharitri Socio Cultural Trust, says her heart skipped a beat when she came to know that Meera Mohanty, an actress of yesteryears who used to keep audience in her thrall with her mesmerizing acting, is living a wretched life in a slum in Bhubaneswar.
The very next moment she decided to do something for her. “I consulted the other members of the trust and we pooled a fund of Rs5000. We met her at her house in a slum near Mausi Maa square under ward number-57 of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. We know our help is of a very little amount. But she said that finding us near her was much more than any financial help,” said Dharitri.
“We can’t say what would become of us in future. So we should love each other and do whatever we can do for the actors and actresses who are living in penury” she added.
The sexagenarian, Meera was a most sought after actress in her time. She was associated with several famous theatre groups of that time including Kalashree Theatre, Janata Rangmanch, Ekamra theatre to name but a few.
‘Jajabara’, ‘Trinath Mela’, ‘Samaya Bada Balaban’, ‘Sampurna Ramayan’, ‘Pratidhwani’ and ‘Subarna Sita’ are some the Odia films she gave her best for which she is still remembered.
Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, director, Ranjan Kumar Das had handed over a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the actress on New Year’s day.
By kalasanskruti
Photo courtesy: Dharitri Socio Cultural Trust
