Actor Manoj Bharathiraja no more

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Chennai: Actor Manoj Bharathiraja, son of veteran director Bharathiraja, passed away here on Tuesday following a heart attack. The 48-year-old, who was recovering at his Chetpet residence after a bypass surgery, is survived by his actor-wife Nandana and their two daughters.

Chief Minister M K Stalin, saying he was deeply saddened by Manoj’s passing. Posted on X: “My deepest condolences to director Bharathiraja, his family and friends from the film industry.”

Manoj, who debuted as an actor in Bharathiraja’s ‘Taj Mahal’ (1999) alongside Riya Sen, began as an assistant director for Mani Rathinam’s ‘Bombay’. After acting in movies such as Sarathkumar-starrer ‘Samudhiram’ under director K S Ravikumar, Bharathiraja’s award-winning Murali-starrer ‘Kadal Pookkal’, ‘Alli Arjuna,’ ‘Varushameelam Vasantham,’ ‘Eera Nilam’ and Sathyaraj’s political satire ‘Maha Nadigan,’ he went back to his passion – direction – assisting Shankar in ‘Enthiran’ (2010) and his father in films such as ‘Final Cut of Director’ (2016). He also acted in Suseenthiran’s ‘Champion,’ ‘Eeswaran,’ and Simbu-starrer ‘Maanaadu.’

In several interviews, Manoj described how he wanted to remake his father’s blockbuster ‘Sigappu Rojakkal,’ and even had a script ready. In 2023, Manoj made ‘Margazhi Thingal,’ starring his role models – his father and Suseenthiran – with debutants Shyam Selvan and Rakshana.

In 2024, he was a key character in ‘Snakes and Ladders,’ a thriller web series on Amazon Prime.

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