Tamil Actor-Director K Bhagyaraj Dies Of Heart Attack At 73

Veteran

Tamil filmmaker, actor and writer, K Bhagyaraj, is no more. According to early reports, he reportedly succumbed to a massive heart attack. He was rushed to Chennai’s Apollo Hospital in an unconscious state and was declared dead on arrival. Further details on the cause of death and his medical history have not been disclosed yet. Bhagyaraj is survived by his wife, actress Poornima Bhagyaraj and his two children - Saranya Bhagyaraj and Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, who is an actor in the Tamil film industry. Bhagyaraj was last seen in Nagarjuna and Dhanush’s Kuberaa.

K Bhagyaraj dies at 73

Besides being an actor, Bhagyaraj was regarded as one of the greatest screenplay writers. Before stepping into direction, he worked as an assistant to renowned director Bharathiraja in the 70s. Bhagyaraj’s directorial debut was Suvarillatha Chiththirangal (1979). Gradually, he became one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars. A multifaceted person, he acted in many of his own films.

K Bhagyaraj films

Bhagyaraj’s acclaimed films were Andha 7 Naatkal, Darling, Darling, Darling, Mundhanai Mudichu, Dhavani Kanavugal, Chinna Veedu, Avasara Police 100, and Parijatham. Many of his movies went on to be remade in Hindi and Telugu. His first Hindi film was Woh 7 Din; he wrote the story and screenplay. The Anil Kapoor, Padmini Kolhapure, and Naseeruddin Shah film was the remake of Andha 7 Naatkal. Rajesh Khanna and Sridevi’s Masterji (1985) was an adaptation of his Tamil blockbuster Mundhanai Mudichu.

K Bhagyaraj's popular Hindi directorials and remakes

After delivering blockbusters in Tamil, he directed Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi and Jaya Prada’s revenge drama, Aakhree Raasta, which was one of his best-known Hindi directorials. He then remade his Tamil film, Veetla Visheshanga, as Mr Bechara in Hindi with Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, and Nagarjuna. Bhagyaraj also directed Papa the Great (2000), featuring Krishna Kumar, Nagma, and child actor Master Bobby. Govinda and Karisma Kapoor’s Raja Babu (1994) was Rasukutty’s remake. When he was not directing, writing and acting in movies, Bhagyaraj wrote novels and edited the Tamil weekly magazine, Bhagya.

K Bhagyaraj family

The veteran actor married actress Poornima Jayaram after the death of his first wife, actress Praveena. They have two children, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj and Saranya Bhagyaraj. Shanthanu made his acting debut as a child actor in his father’s film, Vaettiya Madichu Kattu (1998). In his final film, Kuberaa, Bhagyaraj played the role of Dhanush’s mentor. It was a cameo appearance. While the Tamil industry was coping with K Bharathiraja’s death, the news of Bhagyaraj’s demise has shaken fans.