Uttam Mohanty is an Indian Odia film and television actor who has to his credit more than 135 Odia films to date and has acted in 30 Bengali films and in a Hindi film Naya Zaher. Early life Uttam Mohanty was born and brought up in Baripada, Odisha. His grandfather settled in Baripada 150 years ago. He completed his early education from M.K.C. High School. As a child he was very naughty which brought fresh complaints from outside. After matriculation he joined Maharaja Purnachandra College, Baripada for his intermediate and bachelor's in science. During his college days he was inclined more towards acting. He always tried to play the lead part in dramas. He was equally passionate to sports like badminton and table tennis. After completing graduation, he went to Ludhiana for chartered accountancy. Thereafter he stayed with his elder brother, the late Arun Ku. Mohanty, in Kolkata for some time, enrolled in a chartered accountancy course there. Till now he is closely associated with Baripada. Life and career Knowing that a film named Abhiman was being made in Baripada, he returned home with a hope of trying his luck in films. Though there were many contenders for the lead role, the director Sadhu Meher had a special interest in his capability and looks. He was selected. Co-actress Rita Chand was also debuting in that film. On the day of shooting he turned up to the set well-dressed with best possible suits available. Sadhu told him to take the make-up of a poor guy. He was sent again to come back with old and dirty clothes and without make-up. The 1977 film was a box office hit. Uttam now opted seriously for being an actor, and slowly stabilised his position in the Odia film industry. While staying in Kolkata he got an offer from director Dhir Biswal for his upcoming film titled Gouri. Later that role was given to Prasanta Nanda. The next film he did was "Pati Patni" opposite Mahasweta Ray. Then a streak of films like "Nijhum ratira sathi", "Chinha Achhinha", "Ramayana", Tapasya, Ram Balram happened. By the time he was established as a romantic star.Uttam Mohanty was especially adored for his effortless naturalism in front of the camera and a distinctively urbane charisma that broke free from the prototypical Odia screen hero of the past. He went on to form successful screen pairs with many leading ladies