Doordarshan Anchor, Gitanjali Aiyar Dies

Gitanjali was in her mid-70s.

Ms. Aiyar was suffering from Parkinson's disease. She collapsed after returning home from a walk, the family member informed.

"She had Parkinson's disease and was on medication, "said a close friend of Gitanjali

After graduating from Kolkata's Loreto College, Gitanjali Aiyar joined Doordarshan in 1971 and was awarded the best anchor four times in a row.

She also won the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for Outstanding Women in 1989.

Besides presenting news programs, Gitanjali Aiyar, a diploma holder from the National School of Drama (NSD), had also been a popular face in several print advertisements and even acted in Sridhar Kshirsagar's TV drama "Khandaan".

In her decades-long illustrious career, she was also associated with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Several noted personalities took to Twitter to condole the demise of the eminent personality.

"We remember the days when Gitanjali ji graced our screens, leaving a mark on our news-watching experiences.

Saddened by her demise, my heartfelt condolences to her loved ones. May she find eternal peace," said Congress leader Netta D'Souza via tweet.

Gitanjali Aiyar was survived by a son and daughter Pallavi Aiyar, who is also a famous award-winning journalist.