Mardani fame editor Sanjib Datta passes away at 54, Sujoy Ghosh expresses his grief

In another shocking death, renowned Bollywood editor Sanjib Datta who worked on films like "Dor", "Mardani", "Iqbal", "Ek Hasini Thi" passed away on Sunday at the age of 54. Datta, and alumnus of FTII, was based in Kolkata for the last couple of years. He was a long-time collaborator of filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor, working as an editor in almost all his films. Nagesh, who's currently in Canada, confirmed his demise and said, "I've been told he went in for a bypass surgery a few days ago but never came back. I am gathering more information. His death is devastating. He was the last of Renu Saluja school. She trained so many people but no one carried her legacy the way he did."

"In fact, Renu was editing 'Bollywood Calling' when she passed away. So he finished the editing but never took credit," Nagesh told PTI. Datta has been credited for editing more than 80 films, including Hindi and Bengali. He worked with filmmakers like Kundan Shah, Sriram Raghvan, Pradeep Sarkar among others. Needless to say, people from the fraternity are saddened by the loss.

Screenwriter-editor Apurva Asrani, who worked with Datta in "8x10 Tasveer" and "Aashayein", took to Twitter and called him "a mature craftsman and a thorough gentleman." "Shocked to hear about the passing of Sanjib Datta. He was a fine editor whose work was synonymous with the best films of Nagesh Kukunoor. Sanjib and I shared editing credits on Aashayein & Tasveer 8x10, and I will always remember him as a mature craftsman & a thorough gentleman," Asrani tweeted.

Shocked to hear about the passing of Sanjib Datta. He was a fine editor whose work was synonymous with the best films of Nagesh Kukunoor. Sanjib & I shared editing credits on Aashayein & Tasveer 8x10, and I will always remember him as a mature craftsman & a thorough gentleman.

Apurva (@Apurvasrani) September 15, 2019

Even filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh tweeted, "One of our finest editor Sanjib Datta and wrote, "Bhalo thakis kaka... we will miss you." And more.

one of our finest editor sanjib datta.

bhalo thakis kaka... we will miss you. pic.twitter.com/7c6tmXVKHX

sujoy ghosh (@sujoy_g) September 15, 2019

A friend, a senior and such a good editor... Sanjib Datta, wish you'd have taken better care of yourself, brother... ?? Om Shanti ??

Jyoti Kapur Das (@jkd18) September 15, 2019

May his soul rest in peace.

(With inputs from PTI)