KOLKATA: Veteran Bengali actor Basanti Chatterjee passed away at her residence in Kolkata on Tuesday night, her family confirmed. She was 88.Chatterjee, who had been battling cancer for a long time, spent several months in the ICCU of a hospital before doctors advised home care under the supervision of nurses, according to a spokesperson from the West Bengal Motion Picture Artists’ Forum.Over a career spanning more than five decades, Chatterjee appeared in over 100 films, including acclaimed works such as Thagini, Manjari Opera, and Alo. She was also a familiar face on Bengali television, featuring in popular serials like Bhutu, Boron, and Durga Durgeshwari.Her final screen appearance was in the serial Gita LLB, during the filming of which she fell seriously ill.In her early years, Chatterjee was also active on stage, performing in numerous theatre productions.Condoling her death, actor Bhaswar Chatterjee said, “She had been experiencing a lot of physical pain lately.” He said despite falling health and advanced age, her craft was irreplaceable. (With inputs from agencies)