Overview

• Rajesh suffered a sudden collapse on his way to Ramachandra Hospital on May 29 after complaining of low blood pressure and respiratory complications.
• Over a career spanning more than five decades, he appeared in over 150 films in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, debuting in Aval Oru Thodarkathai (1974) and last acting in the 2024 film Merry Christmas.
• Beyond acting, Rajesh built a real estate business, authored books on astrology, worked as a dubbing artist and served on the executive committee of Nadigar Sangam.
• Superstar Rajinikanth and actress Radhika Sarathkumar led tributes, praising his versatility on screen and his personal warmth off it.
• His funeral will take place in Chennai once his daughter Divya arrives from the United States; he is also survived by his son, Deepak.