Actor Vishnuvardhan is Dead!

The last couple of days of the year 2009 were proved as huge loss for the Kannada film industry. The Kannada film industry has lost its two renowned personalities in few hours. On Tuesday, popular singer and music composer C Ashwath died of liver and kidney failure while renowned Kannada actor Vishnuvardhan passed away following a cardiac arrest in Mysore in the wee hours on Wednesday.

Vishnuvardhan was 59.

According to the family sources, the actor complaints of breathing problems around 2.30 am and was immediately taken to a private hospital where he was declared dead.

The family and hospital sources said that he died at around 3.00 am in the wee hours.

Vishnuvardhan’s wife Bharathi and son-in law Anirudh were present in the hospital when he breathed his last.

The Kannada actor Vishnuvardhan has worked in more than 197 films through out his career. He was famous as ‘sahasa simha’ among his millions of fans.

His sudden death is huge loss for film industry and painful for his fans.

During this tough time entire Samaylive team stands with his family and pray God may rest his soul in peace.

You can also mourn his demise by paying your tribute, You can post you comments here below.

Vishnuvardhan, a versatile actor, made his debut into the ‘Sandalwood’ through “Vamsharukha”, an art film directed by Janapeetha awardee Girish Karnad.

He was launched into fame for his role ‘Ramachargi’, a wayward and rebellious student in “Nagarahaavu”, a film directed by acclaimed director Puttanna Kanagal.

Expressing grief over the actor’s death, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said the body would be cremated with full state honours.

Yeddyurappa, who visited the actor’s residence, placed a wreath on the body and consoled the family members.

Yeddyurappa, also a film buff, described Vishnuvardhan as a towering personality of the Kannada film industry.

“Vishnuvardhan, is a abhinava bhargava (born actor), Karnataka has become poor in his death”, he said.

He urged the actor’s fans to maintain calm and peace, an appeal also made by Bharathi.

Thousands of fans thronged the actor’s residence to have a glimpse of the body.

Ministers Katta Subramanya Naidu, R Ashok and Suresh Kumar and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, also a film producer, paid tributes to the actor.

As a mark of respect to the actor, the government declared a holiday today to schools and colleges.

Government offices, however, will function as usual, official sources told news agency here.