Sudden Loss in Tamil Film Industry
In shocking news, veteran actor Rajesh passed away at 75 due to a heart attack in Chennai. The Tamil film industry was hit with grief on May 29, 2025. The news was unexpected for fans and coworkers, as Rajesh suffered from low blood pressure on Thursday morning. There are, unfortunately, details stating that he died while being rushed to a hospital in Chennai. Reports suggest that he died while being rushed to a hospital in Chennai. He was a very famous actor within the Indian film industry for nearly five decades. His body has been placed at his Ramapuram home in Chennai for fans and well-wishers to pay their final respects.
An Impressive Achievement in Tamil Films
Rajesh was born on December 20, 1949, in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu. His professional career began as a schoolteacher, which later fused into a passion for cinema. His cinematic exploits began in 1974 when he featured in K. Balachander’s film Aval Oru Thodarkathai in a minor role. His skills were apparent, and by 1979, he had bagged his first starring role in Kanni Paruvathile produced by Rajkannu. Throughout his illustrious career, Rajesh was a part of more than 150 films in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu, proving his mettle in both supporting and leading roles.
Virumaandi and Mahanadhi are usually mentioned in the same breath as Thanneer Thanneer, Andha 7 Naatkal, and Payangal Mudivadil Hai as Rajesh’s most iconic films, all alongside the legendary Kamal Haasan. He was also a part of Ajith’s Red, Vikram’s Saamy, Silambarasan’s Kovil, and Arun Vijay’s Yaanai. Alongside Vijay Sethupathi and Kattrina Kaif, Rajesh starred in the 2024 Hindi-Tamil bilingual film Merry Christmas directed by Sriram Raghavan, which marked his final appearance on the big screen. Aside from acting, Rajesh proved his talent as a writer, dubbing artist, and was a regular on serials like Alaigal, Roja, Poove Unakkaga and Karthigai Deepam.
Later, Rajesh branched out to the hotel and real-estate business in Chennai where he thrived as an entrepreneur. Moreover, he pursued his interests intellectually by writing the biographies of Hollywood actors in Tamil as well as penning several books on astrology.
Personal Life and Family
A Christian by faith, Rajesh married Joan Sylvia Vanathirayar, granddaughter to social reformist Pattukottai Davis Vanathirayar, in 1983. Together, the couple had two children, a daughter, Divya, and a son, Deepak, who made his acting debut in 2014. Sad news struck the family as Joan Sylvia breathed her last in 2012. Rajesh’s children now become his survivors lamenting the father’s demise. His funeral is set to happen after Divya comes back from the US which is when the family intends to hold the service.
Industry Impact and Tributes
The Tamil film industry was left shocked with the untimely death of Rajesh. In an X post, a friend of Rajesh, Super Star Rajinikanth said: “The news of the untimely death of my close friend, actor Rajesh, shocked me and caused me great heartache. What a remarkable person. May his soul RIP. My heartfelt prayers to his family and friends” (India Today). Actress Radhika Sarathkumar also expressed her grief on X stating “Deeply shocked and sudden to hear of #rajesh s unexpected demise” (Hindustan Times).
The Times of India stated that “Kollywood mourns his loss deeply, remembering him as a remarkable actor who left a lasting impact on South Indian cinema” (Times of India). With the passing of Rajesh, fans have brought forth old videos of his performances and have poured in with memories, with many people finally identifying the degree of profundity he added to every single role he enacted.
Raj Today’s obituary noted, “Kollywood mourns his loss deeply, remembering him as a remarkable actor who left a lasting impact on South Indian cinema” (Times of India). With the passing of Rajesh, fans have brought forth old videos of his performances and have poured in with memories, with many people finally identifying the degree of profundity he added to every single role he acted.
A Lasting Remark
One of the many aspects of Rajesh’s life that came to light after his death is the fact that during an interview, he told reporters that he dug his own grave when he turned 40 which was a rather philosophical approach and has left many fans sobered (Tamil Oneindia). This shows how rajesh always chose to think differently.
Rajesh went over and above his contribution towards acting. In 1985, he made history as the first Tamil actor to construct a shooting bungalow in Chennai’s KK Nagar, which was later inaugurated by Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (Wikipedia). His endeavors throughout life have set him apart as a remarkable pioneer in the domain.
Filmography Highlights
A comprehensive list of Rajesh’s notable films are mentioned in the table below:
Film Year Role Type Notable Co-Stars/Director
Aval Oru Thodarkathai 1974 Supporting K. Balachander (Director)
Kanni Paruvathile 1979 Lead Rajkannu (Producer)
Thanneer Thanner 1981 Supporting K. Balachander (Director)
Andha 7 Naatkal 1981 Supporting K. Bhagyaraj (Director)
Sathya 1988 Supporting Kamal Haasan
Mahanadhi 1994 Supporting Kamal Haasan
Virumaandi 2004 Supporting Kamal Haasan
Red 2002 Supporting Ajith Kumar
Saamy 2003 Supporting Vikram
Kovil 2004 Supporting Silambarasan
Merry Christmas 2024 Supporting Vijay Sethupathi, Katrina Kaif
A Lasting Impact
With Rajesh’s demise, we have witnessed the passing of a monumental figure in Tamil cinema. He possessed an unparalleled skill set, being able to switch from supporting to lead roles, and a writer, dubbing artist, and entrepreneur, further showcasing his distinct Hollywood persona. His performances in television serials such as Karthigai Deepam also made him widely popular across multiple generations.
While friends and colleagues are coming together to pay their respects, Rajesh’s legacy will remain alive within his extensive body of work and the multitude of people he impacted with his performances. It is true that Tamil cinema has lost a jewel, but his work will continue to motivate many others to come.
