Leading Bengali film directors condole Tom Alter's death

Kolkata: Leading Bengali cine directors today condoled the death of veteran film and theatre actor Tom Alter, who passed away in Mumbai on Friday.

Alter had acted in a number of Bengali films. "It is too shocking for me to hear this though I know he was in critical condition for the past few days," said film director Sandip Roy, the son of maestro Satyajit Ray.

"Memories keep flooding about the days of shooting of my father's Shatranj ki Khilari. Tom used to be extremely polite to all unit members and was a great human being. I am at a loss for words.

"I had thought that if ever I make a film on Prof Shanku (Satyajit Ray's popular science fiction character), he (Alter) would have been cast in an important role. I had cast him as an Englishman in my film Kailashey Kelenkari," Ray told PTI.

Director Goutam Ghosh said, "Tom Altar was a very articulate, brilliant and stylish actor who was equally conversant in Hindi, Urdu and English. I had the opportunity to meet him some time ago and what struck me was his positive approach. He had very close ties with Bengal and I shared warm relations with him.

"Alter's death is a sad news on Bijoya Dashami day," he added.