Kannada actor ‘Bank’ Janardhan dies at 76

Bengaluru: Veteran Kannada actor ‘Bank' Janardhan, known for his comedic presence on screen, passed away at a private hospital in the city in the early hours of Monday. He was 76.
The actor, who was unwell for over 20 days, breathed his last following multiple organ failure around 2.30am, according to his son Guru.
Born in Holalkere, Chitradurga district, Janardhan began his professional life as a helper at Jayalakshmi Bank in 1965, earning Rs 50 a month. He began acting in the productions of a professional theatre troupe. Oorige Upakari marked his debut in Sandalwood in 1982. He returned to his bank duties, earning him the enduring prefix ‘Bank'. Encouraged by veteran actor Dheerendra Gopal, he later moved to Bengaluru and began acting full-time, eventually becoming a regular comedian in Kannada movies.
In a career spanning four decades, Janardhan acted in more than 500 films, including Tharle Nan Maga' (1992), Shhh! (1993), Ganesha Subramanya (1992), and News (2005). He was also a big hit in TV serials like Paapa Pandu and Robo Family.
In recent years, his health deteriorated, especially after a heart attack in 2023. Last week, he was readmitted to the hospital with severe respiratory distress.