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Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rajesh passes away at 75: All you need to know about his career, passion, family, and legacy
Veteran Tamil actor Rajesh passed away at the age of 75, he was more than just a familiar face in South Indian cinema. He was also a man of quiet wisdom and deep thought. Born on 20 December 1949 in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, Rajesh began his acting career in 1974 with a small but memorable role in K. Balachander 's film 'Aval Oru Thodarkadhai'. Just five years later, he landed his first leading role in 'Kanni Paruvathile' (1979), starting a film journey that would span over four decades. A natural across genres and generations Rajesh soon became known for his ease in playing all kinds of characters – from romantic leads to emotionally complex supporting roles. He starred in many well-loved films such as 'Andha 7 Naatkal', 'Sathya', 'Mahanadi', 'Virumaandi', 'Ramana', 'Autograph', 'Deena', 'Sivakasi', 'Dharmadurai', and 'Master'. Whether he was portraying a quiet father figure or a wise mentor, Rajesh brought depth, calm, and sincerity to every role. His thoughtful performances won the respect of audiences and fellow actors alike. Off-screen, a thinker and astrologer Rajesh's life outside cinema was just as inspiring. In his later years, he developed a strong interest in astrology. He wrote several books on the subject and shared his knowledge through his own YouTube channel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Book Your Daily Profit By 11 AM With This Superclass By Mr. Bala TradeWise Learn More Undo His deep thinking and interest in life's bigger questions showed a different side of him – one that fans deeply admired. A graceful and loving personal life Away from the spotlight, Rajesh was a devoted husband and a caring father. His wife, Joan Silvia – the granddaughter of Dravidian leader Pattukottai Davis Vanathirayar – passed away in 2012. He is survived by his two children: daughter Divya and son Deepak. Rajesh's sudden passing due to a respiratory issue has left a big void in the Tamil film industry. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Veteran Tamil Actor Rajesh Passes Away At 75
Published By : IANS Last Updated: Rajesh breathed his last at his residence in Ramapuram, Chennai. His body has been placed there for the public to pay their final respects. Veteran Tamil actor Rajesh, celebrated for his versatile performances across more than 150 films in South Indian cinema, passed away on Thursday at the age of 75. Rajesh breathed his last at his residence in Ramapuram, Chennai. His body has been placed there for the public to pay their final respects. He is survived by his daughter Divya and son Deepak. His wife, Joan Sylvia, had predeceased him. Born on December 20, 1949, in Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvarur district, Rajesh began his professional journey as a schoolteacher. However, driven by a passion for acting, he eventually left teaching and made a foray into films — a decision that marked the beginning of an illustrious and impactful career in Indian cinema. Rajesh made his acting debut in 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai' (1974), a critically-acclaimed Tamil film directed by K. Balachander. His talent was quickly recognised, and he went on to play the lead role in 'Kanni Paruvathile' (1979), produced by Rajkannu, which marked his breakthrough as a hero. Over the decades, Rajesh became a familiar and respected figure across Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and other South Indian language films. Known for his expressive performances and commanding screen presence, he seamlessly transitioned between lead, supporting, and character roles. In addition to acting, Rajesh was also an accomplished dubbing artist, lending his voice to several notable projects. His deep, distinctive voice and emotive delivery added dimension to many characters. He shared screen space with several leading stars and worked under the direction of some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the industry. His association with director K. Balachander remained particularly significant. In 'Achamillai Achamillai', Rajesh delivered one of his most powerful performances, earning praise for his nuanced portrayal of political transformation. Rajesh also had memorable collaborations with actor Kamal Haasan, appearing in films such as 'Sathya', 'Mahanadhi', and 'Virumaandi', where his character roles left a lasting impression on audiences. Colleagues and fans alike remember Rajesh not only for his talent but also for his humility and dedication to the craft of cinema. His passing marks the end of an era, and the Tamil film industry mourns the loss of a true artist whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations. First Published:
Hans India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
End of an era in South cinema as veteran Tamil actor Rajesh passes away at 75
Veteran Tamil actor Rajesh, celebrated for his versatile performances across more than 150 films in South Indian cinema, passed away on Thursday, at the age of 75. Rajesh breathed his last at his residence in Ramapuram, Chennai. His body has been placed there for the public to pay their final respects. He is survived by his daughter Divya and son Deepak. His wife, Joan Sylvia, had predeceased him. Born on December 20, 1949, in Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvarur district, Rajesh began his professional journey as a schoolteacher. However, driven by a passion for acting, he eventually left teaching and made a foray into films — a decision that marked the beginning of an illustrious and impactful career in Indian cinema. Rajesh made his acting debut in 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai' (1974), a critically-acclaimed Tamil film directed by K. Balachander. His talent was quickly recognised, and he went on to play the lead role in 'Kanni Paruvathile' (1979), produced by Rajkannu, which marked his breakthrough as a hero. Over the decades, Rajesh became a familiar and respected figure across Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and other South Indian language films. Known for his expressive performances and commanding screen presence, he seamlessly transitioned between lead, supporting, and character roles. In addition to acting, Rajesh was also an accomplished dubbing artist, lending his voice to several notable projects. His deep, distinctive voice and emotive delivery added dimension to many characters. He shared screen space with several leading stars and worked under the direction of some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the industry. His association with director K. Balachander remained particularly significant. In 'Achamillai Achamillai', Rajesh delivered one of his most powerful performances, earning praise for his nuanced portrayal of political transformation. Rajesh also had memorable collaborations with actor Kamal Haasan, appearing in films such as 'Sathya', 'Mahanadhi', and 'Virumaandi', where his character roles left a lasting impression on audiences. Colleagues and fans alike remember Rajesh not only for his talent but also for his humility and dedication to the craft of cinema. His passing marks the end of an era, and the Tamil film industry mourns the loss of a true artist whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Tamil actor Rajesh passes away at 75, Rajinikanth says, ‘He was a wonderful person'
Actor Rajesh, who starred in more than 150 Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films over a five-decade-long career, died on Thursday in Chennai. He was 75. Rajesh's nephew confirmed his passing, stating that the actor died on Thursday. He had complained of low blood pressure and passed away en route to the hospital. Rajesh made his silver screen debut with K. Balachander's Aval Oru Thodarkathai (1974). He went on to play pivotal roles in films such as Kanni Paruvathile, Achamillai Achamillai, Andha 7 Naatkal, and Payanangal Mudivadhillai, among others. Over time, he transitioned to supporting roles, sharing screen space with leading actors across generations. The actor was also active in politics and real estate business. For the past two years, he had served as chairman of the Tamil Nadu government-backed M.G.R. Film and Television Institute. Several celebrities took to social media to mourn the demise of Rajesh. Actor Rajinikanth shared on X, 'The news of the untimely death of my close friend, actor Rajesh, is shocking to me. It brings immense sadness. He was a wonderful person. May his soul rest in peace. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.' Actress Radikaa Sarathkumak wrote on X, 'Deeply shocked and sudden to hear of #rajesh s unexpected demise. 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. #RIP' Producer G Dhananjeyan posted on X, 'Very sad to read about the passing away of Actor #Rajesh sir, a fine actor and a respected person in film industry. My heartfelt condolences to the family. Rest in peace sir.' Rajesh is survived by his son Deepak and daughter Divya.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Veteran Tamil actor Rajesh passes away at 75
Veteran Tamil film actor Rajesh passed away in Chennai on Thursday, May 29, following a sudden heart attack. He was 75. He is survived by his daughter Divya and son Deepak. His wife, Joan Sylvia, had passed away earlier. His body has been kept at his residence in Ramapuram, Chennai, for the public to pay their respects. Born on December 20, 1949, in Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvarur district, Rajesh began his career as a school teacher before transitioning into cinema. He made his screen debut in Aval Oru Thodarkathai (1974), directed by K. Balachander. His first lead role came in Kannipparuvathile (1979), produced by Rajkannu. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, Rajesh acted in over 150 films across Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. He was widely recognised for his versatility and character roles, earning praise for performances in films like Andha Ezhu Naatkal, Sathya, Payanangal Mudivathillai, Virumaandi, and Mahanadhi. His most recent appearance was in the Vijay Sethupathi–Katrina Kaif film Merry Christmas. Rajesh was the first Tamil actor to build a bungalow for the purpose of movie shooting in 1985 near KK Nagar, Chennai, which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran Apart from acting, Rajesh was a writer, dubbing artist, and television actor. In the latter half of his career he made a switch towards hotel and real estate business. Rajesh collaborated with several top directors and actors during his career, including frequent work with K. Balachander and Kamal Haasan.
