Veteran actor and director K Bhagyaraj passes away

Veteran actor, director, and screenwriter K Bhagyaraj passed away on Saturday following a cardiac arrest. He was 73.

Bhagyaraj suffered a cardiac arrest early in the morning and was rushed to Apollo Hospital in Chennai. However, he breathed his last while undergoing treatment.

Known for his exceptional screenplay-writing skills, Bhagyaraj penned several blockbuster films and earned a reputation as one of Tamil cinema’s finest storytellers. Although he was predominantly known for his work in Tamil cinema, he also contributed stories to several Telugu and Hindi films.

He began his career as an assistant director to Bharathiraja before making his directorial debut with Suvarilladha Chiththirangal in 1979. He also made his debut as a lead actor in Puthiya Vaarpugal, directed by Bharathiraja. Bhagyaraj also found success in Hindi cinema. His directorial venture Aakhree Raasta, starring Amitabh Bachchan, emerged as a major hit and further enhanced his reputation as a filmmaker.

In recent years, he continued to stay active as an actor, appearing in Telugu films such as “Avunu”, “Memu Vayasuku Vacham”, and “Kuberaa”.