Obituary: Santosh Balar Raj, Promising Kannada Actor, Passes Away at 34

Sad news has struck the Kannada film industry and its fans with the untimely passing of Santosh Balar Raj, who died at the young age of 34. The Canada-born actor passed away on Tuesday morning at around 9:30 a.m. in the intensive care unit of Apollo Hospital, Kumaraswamy Layout, Bengaluru, after a battle with severe jaundice and related complications.

Reports indicate that Santosh had been suffering from jaundice for several weeks. Despite continued medical treatment, his health deteriorated due to serious liver and kidney issues which eventually caused him to slip into a coma. Unfortunately, even with intensive care, his organs could not recover, leading to his death.

Santosh Balar Raj earned recognition for his performances in Kannada films such as Ganapa and Kariya 2. His acting debut came in 2009 with the film Kempa, produced by his father Anikail Balar Raj. Santosh was often seen as a rising talent in the Kannada film industry, and his sudden demise has left colleagues and fans shocked and heartbroken.

Santosh was the only son of producer Anikail Balar Raj, who produced the 2013 film Kariya starring Daran. The family suffered a previous tragedy when Santosh’s father passed away in a road accident in 2022. Santosh was unmarried and lived with his mother at the time of his passing.

The Kannada film fraternity and fans remember Santosh Balar Raj as a promising actor whose journey ended far too soon. His memory and contributions to cinema will be cherished by those who loved his work.