Siddharth Ray is best remembered as The sympathetic Inspector Karan Saxena, who was silently in love with Kajol’s character in Baazigar. One of the most promising talents, Siddharth Ray, left us at a young age, leaving behind some really good performances to cherish forever.
Early Life
Siddharth Ray, born Sushant Ray on July 19, 1966, was a notable actor in Hindi and Marathi cinema. He hailed from a distinguished film family, being the grandson of the renowned filmmaker V. Shantaram. His mother, Charusheela Ray, was V. Shantaram’s daughter from his first wife, Vimla Shantaram.
His father, Dr. Subrato Ray, was a Bengali economist with a Ph.D. from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, and an accomplished sitar player. His parents met during a recording session. The family lived in a comfortable house in Dadar, Mumbai, where his father served as Chief Economic Advisor of the Bombay Port Trust. He grew up with privileges, exposed to cinema and music early on.
Siddharth Ray In Films
Siddharth began his acting career as a child artist in the Marathi film “Chaani,” directed by his grandfather. He gained recognition in Hindi films with his debut in “Thodisi Bewafaii” (1980) opposite Padmini Kolhapure. In the film he plays the young son of Rajesh Khanna and Shabana Azmi. However, he is best roles came in the 1990s, particularly in films like Vansh (1992), Parwane (1993), Baazigar (1993), and Pehchaan (1993).
His role as the best friend and silent lover, Inspector Karan Saxena, of Kajol in Baazigar (1993), was espacialy noteworthy. The famous song “Chhupana Bhi Nahi Aata,” was sung by him in the film.
In addition to his Hindi film career, Siddharth was also active in Marathi cinema, where he was known as Sushant Ray. One of his most notable Marathi films was “Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi” (1988), a comedy classic in which he played Shantanu Mane. This film, featuring prominent actors like Laxmikant Berde, Ashok Saraf, and Sachin, remains a favourite among Marathi audiences. Another significant film was “Balache Baap Brahmachari” (1989), where he portrayed Dinesh Patil.
Personal Life
Siddharth married South Indian actress Shantipriya in 1992. Shantipriyta famously starred as the Chand in Saugandh opposite Akshay Kumar. She is the sister of famous actress Bhanupriya. They had two children, Shishya Ray and Sonia Ray, born within five years. His later years saw fewer roles, with Charas (2004) as his final film, released posthumously.
He died on March 8, 2004, at age 40, from a massive heart attack. Shantipriya raised their children alone, later returning to acting. His son Shishya pursues directing, keeping the family legacy alive.
Siddharth Ray on IMDB
