Veteran Tamil actor Rajesh dies at 75; Film industry pays condolences

Veteran Tamil actor Rajesh took his last breath on Thursday. He died in Chennai after suffering a heart attack. He was aged 75, and is survived by two children. Various personalities from the film industry paid their condolences to the late actor.

Veteran actor Rajesh no more

Actor Rajesh is a veteran artiste who has worked majorly in the Tamil and Malayalam film industries and serials. The actor was born in Tiruvarur and subsequently moved to Chennai for higher studies. He made his acting debut with the 1974 film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, directed by K Balachander. The film starred Kamal Haasan, Vijayakumar, Jai Ganesh, and Sripriya, among others. Though it was only a small role, he went on to act as the lead in the 1979 film Kanni Paruvathile.

With a career which includes over 100 films, he later transitioned to a supporting character. The late actor is survived by his two children: a daughter and son. His last appearance was in the 2024 film Merry Christmas, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif. 

Superstar Rajinikanth expressed his condolences on social media through a post and grieved the actor's sudden death and the pain it caused him. Actor Radikaa Sarathkumar said that she is “deeply shocked” to hear about Rajesh’s death. “Shared so many movies together and had a deep respect to his wide knowledge of cinema and life, will be missed by family, friends and film fraternity,” she wrote.

Where to watch Rajesh’s films on OTT

While it is hard to capsule Rajesh's films who has acted in over 150 films, some of the latest ones can be streamed online. They include the Vadivelu starrer Thenaliraman, Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam starring Arya, and director Hari's Yaanai . Rajesh has also appeared in iconic films like Virumaandi, Dheena, and Iruvar.