Aparajita Mohanty Biography
Aparajita Mohanty is one of the most recognisable faces of Odia cinema, an actress whose career in Ollywood stretches back more than four decades. Beyond the screen, she is also known as the widow of veteran actor Uttam Mohanty, the mother of actor-singer Babushan Mohanty, and a two-time electoral candidate who has contested elections for both the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This Aparajita Mohanty Biography article brings together verified details of her life, family, acting career, and public life.
Aparajita Mohanty Biography Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Aparajita Mohanty (After Marriage) Aparajita Khan (Before Marriage) |
| Profession | Actress, former political candidate |
| Date of Birth | 31 January 1962 (as per election affidavit records; some sources cite 1965) |
| Age (As of 2026) | 64 |
| Place of Birth | Karanjia, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | B.A., Sambalpur University (1982) |
| Spouse | Uttam Mohanty (m. 1987 – his death in 2025) |
| Children | Babushan Mohanty |
| Known For | Sita Labakusha, Phula Chandana, Tunda Baaida, Dhauli Express |
| Years Active | 1980–present |
| Political Affiliation | Indian National Congress (2014–2018); BJP (2018–present) |
Early Life and Family Background
Aparajita Mohanty was born Aparajita Khan in Karanjia, a town in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha (then Orissa). According to Wikipedia’s sourcing and corroborating affidavit records filed with the Election Commission of India, she was born on 31 January 1962, which would make her around 64 years old in 2026. It is worth noting that several entertainment websites list different birth years, including 1965; however, the 1962 date is better supported, since a 2019 election affidavit she personally filed listed her age as 57, which aligns with a birth year of 1961–62 rather than 1965.
Her father, Abdul Aziz Khan, served as the district magistrate of Karanjia at the time of her birth. Her mother, Harapriya Ray, was a zoology professor at what is now Gangadhar Meher University. She grew up in Sambalpur alongside two elder sisters. Her paternal grandfather, Maulavi Abdus Sobhan Khan, held the position of law minister of Orissa Province between 1941 and 1944 during the tenure of Krushna Chandra Gajapati. On her mother’s side, her uncle Rajkishore Ray was a well-known Odia literary figure, and his daughter, actress Mahasweta Ray, is her cousin.
Education
Aparajita Mohanty completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sambalpur University in 1982, according to educational details she declared in her election affidavit filed with the Election Commission of India.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1987, she married Uttam Mohanty, one of Odia cinema’s most celebrated leading men, often described in Odisha’s press as the industry’s first superstar. The couple became one of Ollywood’s best-known on-screen and off-screen pairings, having first appeared together in her debut film in 1980. Their son, Babushan Mohanty (born Tanmay Mohanty in 1989), went on to become a leading actor and playback singer in Odia cinema.
Uttam Mohanty died on 27 February 2025 at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, near New Delhi, following prolonged treatment for liver cirrhosis. He was reported to be 66 years old at the time (some obituaries list his age as 67, reflecting differing birth-year records). His funeral in Bhubaneswar was conducted with full state honours, attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other dignitaries, reflecting Uttam Mohanty’s stature in the Odia film industry. Aparajita Mohanty and her son Babushan received tributes and condolences from political leaders and the film fraternity following his passing.
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Acting Career
Aparajita Mohanty made her film debut in 1980 with Sita Labakusha, appearing opposite Uttam Mohanty, who would later become her husband. Over the following four decades, she built a substantial body of work, appearing in more than 70 Odia films across a range of roles — from romantic leads in the 1980s and 1990s to character and supporting roles in more recent years, often playing mother figures in newer-generation Ollywood films.
Her career gained early momentum through the 1980s with films such as Phula Chandana (1982), Jheeati Sita Pari (1983), and Tunda Baaida (1987), each of which earned her recognition at the Odisha State Film Awards. She continued to be a leading presence in Odia cinema through the 1990s with films including Subhadra (1995) and Laxman Rekha (1996), before transitioning into more mature character roles in the 2000s and 2010s, appearing in productions such as Dhauli Express (2007), Chocolate (2011), and Thukool (2012).
In addition to films, she has appeared in various Odia television serials over the years, extending her reach with Odisha’s television audience.
Her most recent screen credits include a cameo appearance in Pabar (2024) and a role in the horror thriller Bou Buttu Bhuta (2025), which also starred her son Babushan Mohanty.
Notable Films (Selected)
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1980 | Sita Labakusha |
| 1982 | Phula Chandana |
| 1983 | Jheeati Sita Pari |
| 1987 | Tunda Baaida |
| 1988 | Jahaku Rakhibe Ananta |
| 1989 | Sastee |
| 1993 | Asha |
| 1995 | Subhadra |
| 1996 | Laxman Rekha |
| 2007 | Dhauli Express |
| 2011 | Chocolate |
| 2012 | Thukool |
| 2019 | Sriman Surdas |
| 2024 | Pabar (cameo) |
| 2025 | Bou Buttu Bhuta |
Note: This is a selected list of notable titles rather than a complete filmography, as she has appeared in more than 70 Odia films across her career.
Awards and Recognition
Aparajita Mohanty has received the Odisha State Film Award for Best Actress on multiple occasions across her career, for the following films:
- Phula Chandana (1982)
- Tunda Baaida (1987)
- Jahaku Rakhibe Ananta (1988)
- Sastee (1989)
- Asha (1993)
She was also honoured with the ETV Priya Odia award in 2006, recognising her continued popularity with Odisha’s television audience.
Political Career
Aparajita Mohanty entered active politics in February 2014, when she joined the Indian National Congress. Shortly afterward, she was fielded by the party as its candidate for the Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 Indian general election. Contesting against sitting Biju Janata Dal MP Bhartruhari Mahtab and BJP candidate Samir Dey, she emerged as the runner-up, securing about 22.6% of the vote, while Mahtab retained the seat with a margin of over 3 lakh votes. Election Commission records show this was her only Lok Sabha contest to date, for the Cuttack seat; she was not among the candidates in the 2024 Lok Sabha election for Cuttack, which was contested by different nominees.
In February 2018, she left the Congress and joined the BJP. In the 2019 Odisha Legislative Assembly election, she contested the Bhubaneswar North (Uttar) constituency in Khordha district on a BJP ticket. She finished second with roughly 45,779 votes (about 35.7% vote share), losing to BJD’s Susant Kumar Rout, who won with around 71,193 votes.
Her 2019 election affidavit, filed with the Election Commission of India, listed her profession as “Cine Artist & Social Worker” and declared assets of roughly ₹4.3 crore against liabilities of about ₹51.7 lakh at the time.
Also Check – Bijay Mohanty Biography & Wiki
Aparajita Mohanty Social Media
| Platform | Username |
|---|---|
| @aparajitamohantyofficial | |
| @aparajitamohantyofficial | |
| IMDb | nm3382815 |
Aparajita Mohanty Facts
- She was born Aparajita Khan and is credited mononymously as “Aparajita” in some of her early film work.
- Her screen debut and her marriage both involved the same co-star: Uttam Mohanty.
- Her son Babushan Mohanty and nephew Buddhaditya Mohanty are both established names in the Odia film industry.
- She has contested elections for two different national parties — the Congress in 2014 and the BJP in 2019 — without winning either seat.
- Her paternal grandfather served as a minister in the Orissa Province government in the 1940s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Aparajita Mohanty?
Aparajita Mohanty is an Indian actress from the Odia (Ollywood) film industry, active since 1980, who has also been a candidate in state and national elections in Odisha.
What is Aparajita Mohanty’s real name?
She was born Aparajita Khan and is professionally known as Aparajita Mohanty following her marriage.
What is Aparajita Mohanty’s date of birth?
Available records, including a self-declared 2019 election affidavit, indicate she was born on 31 January 1962, though some entertainment websites report different, less well-sourced birth years.
Where is Aparajita Mohanty from?
She was born in Karanjia, in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, and grew up in Sambalpur.
Who was Aparajita Mohanty’s husband?
She was married to veteran Odia actor Uttam Mohanty from 1987 until his death in February 2025.
What films is Aparajita Mohanty known for?
Her notable films include Sita Labakusha (1980), Phula Chandana (1982), Tunda Baaida (1987), Subhadra (1995), Dhauli Express (2007), and Bou Buttu Bhuta (2025), among more than 70 Odia films.
Is Aparajita Mohanty active in politics?
Yes. She joined the Indian National Congress in 2014 and contested the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat that year, then joined the BJP in 2018 and contested the Bhubaneswar North assembly seat in 2019. She has not held elected office.
Who is Aparajita Mohanty’s son?
Her son is Babushan Mohanty (born Tanmay Mohanty), a well-known actor and playback singer in Odia cinema.
Reference – Wikipedia