Kolkata/IBNS: Actress Uma Dasgupta, who played Durga in maestro Satyajit Ray's iconic film Pather Panchali, passed away at the age of 85 on Monday, media reports said.

She passed away at 8:15 am.

The news was confirmed by veteran actor and politician Chiranjit Chakraborty, who stays in the same housing complex where Dasgupta was a resident.

The actress, who was a cancer patient, was admitted to a hospital after she became ill.

Uma Dasgupta | Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from YouTube video

Ray's Pather Panchali was based on Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's novel of the same name. The film was released in 1955.

Dasgupta had played the sister of the protagonist Apu, whose grown up version was played by the late Soumitra Chatterjee.

After Pather Panchali, Dasgupta, however, never featured in a film for life. She was a teacher by profession.