Bhubaneswar: Veteran actor Puneet Issar is set to make his debut in Odisha’s popular Jatra indutry. He will star in an upcoming play titled ‘Danger’.
The announcement was made by actress and owner of Natyamandapa jatra troupe, Rani Panda, who is producing the play.
“I had said that I will bring a renowned name to our next jatra performance. I am thrilled to share that Puneet Issar will be joining our next play ‘Danger’,” Rani said in a video shared widely on social media. Issar, seated next to her. also chimed in: “I want to tell the people of Odisha to wait for my performance.”
Panda further hoped that the audiences would support the production while expressing confidence that Issar would deliver a standout performance and win over Odia viewers.
This is Issar’s first foray into jatra, a dynamic, open-air theatrical style deeply rooted in Odisha’s culture that blends drama, music, dance, and dialogue to engage large rural and urban audiences.
A seasoned performer with decades in the entertainment industry, he began his acting career in 1983 with the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer ‘Coolie’. He rose to widespread fame with his powerful portrayal of Duryodhana in B R Chopra’s iconic television epic ‘Mahabharat’ (1988–1990). Over the years, he has appeared in numerous Bollywood films, including ‘Border’, ‘Krrish’, ‘Ready’, ‘Son of Sardaar,’ and more recently ‘The Kashmir Files’ (2022). In 2004, he made his directorial debut with ‘Garv: Pride and Honour,’ which starred Salman Khan. His career also includes television work and occasional forays into other regional cinema.
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