Ambareesh was suffering from respiratory problems. He died at Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday night.
Bengaluru: Veteran Kannada film star and politician Ambareesh passed away on Saturday night. He breathed his last at 10.50 PM at Vikram Hospital here in Bengaluru. He was 66.
According to family sources, he collapsed at his house at 5 PM and was rushed to the hospital, where he was given treatment in ICU.
Known as Mandyada Gandu and Rebel Star, Ambareesh died of cardiac arrest, the hospital said. He was also suffering from respiratory problems. He was admitted in ICU. He was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for respiratory problems in 2014.
Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar, former minister KJ George, water resource minister DK Shivakumar and several others visited the hospital.
His wife, actress Sumalatha, son Abhishek are present at the hospital. His health was deteriorating from last seven months.
He was born at Doddarasinakere village near Mandya, on May 29, 1952. He is the grandson of legendary musician Piteelu Chowdaiah.
His original name is Malavalli Huchchegowda Amarnath and Ambareesh was his stage name.
He was also a Congress leader from Mandya constituency. Recently, citing health issues, he had not contested from Mandya, despite the party issuing him B Form.
He was also a Member of Parliament and an Union minister in Manmohan Singh cabinet.
In film field, he was a disciple of the legendary director Puttanna Kanagal and entered Kannada film industry as the villain from the movie Nagarahavu in 1972.
His popular movies include Ranganayaki, Nagarahavu, Antha and others. His last film was Ambi Ninge Vayassayytho, that released recently.
He acted in over 200 films, majority of them in Kannada. He had also acted in Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam movies.
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