Cuttack Shri Ram Panda was know as Rajesh Khanna of the Odia film industry. His looks and acting made millions of young women go crazy for him. Film directors of that time were eager to work with him. In 1972, he achieved immediate success by acting in the film Dharitri, directed by Nitaipali, and became the chocolate hero of the time. Following this, he acted in several successful films such as Yajabari, Rakta Golap, Nagaphash, Samay, Sindur Bindhu, Hisab Nikas, and Swapnasagar, among others. Over a 20-year film career, he acted in 30 Odia films and more than 20 Bengali films, achieving immense success. He also became the brand ambassador for Cavendish Cigarettes, and posters of him were seen all over the country. Shri Ram Panda became the only Odia actor to achieve such envious success, and his unique style of holding a cigarette in posters was admired by fans.
At the peak of his career in 1992, Shri Panda left the film industry and his wife and children behind, disappearing from the public eye. His whereabouts remained a mystery for some time. Eventually, it was discovered that he had gone to the Bihar ashram of Swami Satyananda in Munger, where he had taken sanyas (renunciation) and transformed into Swami Nitya Chaitanya.
In an interview, he shared, “At that time, I was promoting Cavendish brand cigarettes, which led to the promotion of smoking habits. I felt guilty about this, and it brought a huge transformation within me. I decided to change myself and others through spiritual means.” He further stated, “If you believe that happiness in life comes from human relationships, you are mistaken. God is present everywhere. He is omnipresent, and He is present in every experience. Experiencing new sensations is the true purpose of the soul.”