Actor Rajesh passes away at 75

Chennai: Veteran actor Rajesh, whose oeuvre included the anti-hero in K Balachander's award-winning ‘Achamillai Achamillai' (1984) and a kind Dr Anand in K Bhagyaraj's ‘Andha Yezhu Natkal' (1981), died on Thursday of a massive cardiac arrest. He was 75 and is survived by a son and daughter.Governor R N Ravi, who condoled his death, said, "His remarkable versatility and presence enriched Tamil cinema for decades." Chief minister MK Stalin, who paid his respects along with deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, said former chief minister M Karunanidhi attended his wedding and other functions at his house. "Considering his long experience, TN appointed him chairman of MGR Film and Television Institute in 2022." Several politicians including minister M P Swaminathan, leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami and MDMK general secretary Vaiko condoled his death.Actor and MNM chief Kamal Haasan wrote on X: "Among the actors who were passionate about acting, my dear friend Rajesh was known for his extensive reading and thoughtful reflection on what he read. His passing, having lived his life with enthusiasm and action until the very end, brings great sadness..." In the past few days, he had been hosting shows on astrology.Mannargudi-born Rajesh Williams, who acted in nearly 150 films in Tamil and Malayalam besides TV serials, in several interviews recalled being a shy boy at school where in Class III he first got on stage, danced with his teacher's son and froze.In the 1970s, he came to Chennai where he worked as a teacher before landing a small role in Balachander's ‘Aval Oru Thodar Kathai' (1974). In 1979 he was cast as hero in ‘Kanni Paruvathile' and then ran the gamut from a thorough gentleman trying to woo Radhika in Mahendran's ‘Metti' (1982), to a rapist who later reforms in R C Sakthi's ‘Sirai' (1984) opposite Lakshmi. He was cast alongside such stars as Sivaji Ganesan ('Simma Soppanam'), Rajinikant (‘Thanikattu Raja' and ‘Thai Veedu'), Kamal Haasan (‘Sathya,' ‘Mahanadhi,' and ‘Virumaandi'). He later built a house in KK Nagar where many Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi movies were made, dabbled in the hotel industry and real estate and wrote biographies of Hollywood stars in Tamil. Sources said the funeral will be held on Sunday.MSID:: 121490329 413 |