Actor Santhosh Balaraj, renowned for his roles in 'Ganapa' and 'Kariya 2', breathes his last at the age of 34.
Kannada film industry mourns the loss of actor Santhosh Balaraj, who passed away on August 5, 2025, in Bengaluru due to health issues. He was 34 years old.
Santhosh, the son of late film producer Anekal Balaraj, began his acting career in 2009 with the action drama Kempa. His breakthrough came with the 2015 film Ganapa, a movie inspired by real-life incidents of the Bengaluru underworld. In this gritty actioner, Santhosh played an orphan forced to turn into a gangster. The film received largely positive reviews, highlighting Santhosh's performance.
Ganapa was a major turning point in Santhosh's career. The film was commercially successful, dubbed into Hindi as Daada ka Vaada, and featured the popular song "Muddagi Neenu" sung by Sonu Nigam. The song became one of the top Kannada songs of the year.
Following Ganapa, Santhosh starred in Kariya 2, a sequel to the 2003 blockbuster. Produced by his father Anekal Balaraj, the film also became a commercial hit, praised especially for the chemistry between Santhosh and lead actress Mayuri Kyatari, and for its mass appeal stunt sequences. Kariya 2 was dubbed in Hindi under the name Ghajinikanth and maintained popularity among viewers.
Santhosh's last movie was Sathyam, released in 2024. He had expressed enthusiasm about this project in prior interviews.
Santhosh Balaraj is survived by his mother. In his final days, he was battling jaundice. His father, Kannada film producer Anekal Balaraj, passed away in a road accident in 2022.
In a 2021 interview to The Times of India, Santhosh expressed his desire to do varied roles. He will be remembered for his strong performances in Kempa, Ganapa, and Kariya 2.
[1] The Times of India [2] India Today [3] Deccan Herald
- The sudden passing of Santhosh Balaraj has left the Kannada film industry in mourning, with numerous news outlets, including The Times of India and Deccan Herald, covering the story extensively.
- As his career progressed, Santhosh Balaraj became a household name, landing him spots on entertainment news shows, such as India Today's Entertainment section.
- Santhosh Balaraj's career took a significant leap with his remarkable performances in action-packed films like Ganapa and Kariya 2, earning him a place among the top celebrities in the sports-entertainment world.
