Gayatri Barua, wife of filmmaker Jahnu Barua, dies in Pune

Guwahati: Gayatri Barua died in Pune on Thursday, November 12. She collapsed while eating a late lunch at a restaurant, suspected to be the canteen at the National Film Archive of India. Doctors at a nearby hospital declared her dead upon arrival. She was in the city to work on restoring the Assamese film Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai.

Manjul Barua, the nephew of her husband, filmmaker Jahnu Barua, confirmed the incident. "She was probably at the Pune archive canteen, where she was working on restoring the Assamese film 'Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai' at the National Film Archive of India. She was having a late lunch when she suddenly collapsed. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors tried to revive her. However, the exact cause of her death is yet to be ascertained," Manjul Barua said.

Family members report Gayatri Barua showed no prior symptoms or illness. A post-mortem exam will confirm the cause of death on Friday, November 13. The couple married in 1989 after meeting through their love of cinema. Gayatri Barua pushed Jahnu Barua to produce his National Award-winning film Baandhon despite his concerns over budget limits.

She leaves behind her husband and their son, actor Ozu Barua. The film community waits for further updates on the tragedy.