Cuttack, Feb. 27: People of the state today mourned the loss of veteran actor and film-maker Gopal Ghose, who died at SCB Medical College and Hospital here.

The 94-year-old actor-director-producer had been suffering from a prolonged illness.

People from the Odia film industry and his fans assembled at his residence and paid tributes after his body had been brought here at Nandi Sahi.

"It is a huge loss not only for the family, but also for the Odia film industry as the history of Odia cinema is incomplete without Gopal Ghose," said son Biswajit Ghose.

Born on May 1, 1920 at Raghunathpur village in Jagatsinghpur, Ghose was instrumental in popularising theatre by bringing the touring theatre concept in the state.

Since his childhood, Ghose was attracted towards play. His first performance was at the age of six in Bhakta Dhruba. Later, he joined the Janta Ranga Manch, HMV records as a regular theatre artiste.

Recognition came for Ghose after he had acted in the popular epic movie Sri Jagannath, which had also bagged the President's Award in 1960.

In 2012, Ghose had donated two books written in Bengali - Bharat Pathik, an Autobiography by Subhas Chandra Bose and Subhas Chandra Ra Antardhyan Kahani, the story of his miraculous escape, to the Netaji Birthplace Museum. Ghose had purchased both the rare books from Calcutta in the 1940s.

"The death has hurt many people as Ghose was an inspiration for many theatre artistes and the Odia film industry," said Bapu Lenka, an actor.

Ghose has also directed over 50 films. Movies such as Amari Gaon Jhia (1953), Sri Loknath (1960), Bhai Bhauja (1965), Ghara Sansara (1972) and Amar Prema (1977) were hugely appreciated.

The actor, who had studied at Ravenshaw Collegiate School, loved football. He was associated with it and played for various clubs, including Rovers Club, Young Utkal Club, Cuttack Football Club and Orissa Athletics Club.

He was also the first film-maker, who has produced more than 40 documentaries for the information and public relations department.

Ghose had been involved in documentary films for the Cuttack Doordarshan Kendra and the Bhubaneswar Doordarshan Kendra between 1984 and 2005. His documentary film Black Pagoda had won many accolades.

The veteran film-maker introduced not only new actors and actresses, but also several technical personalities to the film industry.