Ambareesh was popular for being straightforward

Actor-politician Ambareesh was much loved across political parties and in the film fraternity. His last movie was ‘Ambi Ninge Vayas Aytu’ which was released a few weeks ago. Ambareesh had won several awards, including the state government’s Best Actor award. He had acted in most South Indian language films.


While at the peak of his film career, Ambareesh got into politics by joining the Congress in 1994 ahead of the assembly polls.

He contested the Ramanagara bypoll in 1997, but lost. He won Mandya Lok Sabha seat 1998 on a JD(S) ticket and returned to Congress in 1999.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 and was the Union minister of state for information and broadcasting between 2006-08.

He resigned from the ministry following the Cauvery water-sharing row. In 2009, he lost the Lok Sabha polls. He was re-elected to the assembly in 2013 from Mandya and was a minister between May 2013 and June 2015.

Cutting across party lines, Ambareesh was popular among all for his straightforwardness and helpful attitude. He had health issues in February 2014 when he was the housing minister and he was airlifted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for treatment on the advice of his good friend and Tamil superstar Rajinikanth.