Bengaluru: Santhosh Balaraj, renowned for his contributions to Kannada cinema, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 34 in Bengaluru.

He took his last breath at Sagar Apollo Hospital located in Kumaraswamy Layout, Bengaluru. He had been admitted to the hospital last month due to jaundice and was on the path to recovery following treatment.

Santhosh was readmitted to the hospital after his health deteriorated and was placed in the intensive care unit. The actor, who was receiving treatment, succumbed today at the hospital. His final rites were conducted on Tuesday evening in Bengaluru.

The son of producer Anekal Balaraj, Santhosh launched his career with the film ‘Kempa’. In 2009, he took on the lead role in his debut film ‘Kempa’, which was produced by his father, Anekal Balaraj.

‘Kempa’, an action drama, was directed by newcomer Jagadish and featured the late actor Santhosh alongside Thanushika. He was also recognized for his performances in films such as ‘Kariya 2’ and ‘Ganapa’.

In ‘Ganapa’, he portrayed an innocent individual thrust into a life of crime.

‘Ganapa’, released in 2015, was both written and directed by Prabhu Srinivas and also featured Priyanka Thimmesh.

His final film, ‘Kariya 2’, is a gangster movie directed by Prabhu Srinivas, starring Santhosh Balaraj in the lead role and Mayuri Kyatari as the female lead. It serves as an unrelated sequel to the 2003 hit Kariya. The film premiered in 2017.