Indian filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, known for his sensitive portrayal of interpersonal relationships, died in Kolkata today of a heart attack. He was 49.

Ghosh first caught the attention of cinema lovers in the 1990s with a clutch of films made in his native Bengali language.

His work, often showcased on the Western film festival circuit, resonated with global audiences with memorable and strong women characters. Mainstream Bollywood stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan featured in some of his later films.