New Delhi, Popular playwright actor and multilingual star Girish Karnad has passed away on Monday morning at his residence in Bengaluru. Girish Karnad was aged 81. Girish Karnad died after prolonged illness in Bengaluru. According to the reports the actor died of multiple organ failures.
Girish Karnad was awarded with the 1998 Jnanpith Award, which is the highest literary honour conferred in India.
The veteran actor was last seen in Salman Khan ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, in which he played the character of Dr. Shenoy, RAW Chief.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and prominent names from across the spectrum mourned his demise.
“Sad to hear of the passing of Girish Karnad, writer, actor and doyen of Indian theatre. Our cultural world is poorer today. My condolences to his family and to the many who followed his work,” said Kovind.
“Girish Karnad will be remembered for his versatile acting across all mediums. He also spoke passionately on causes dear to him. His works will continue being popular in the years to come. Saddened by his demise. May his soul rest in peace,” Modi tweeted.
Writer Ramachandra Guha: “Playwright, actor, institution-builder and patriot, Girish Karnad was a colossus. It was a privilege to have known him, a far greater privilege to have seen his plays and read his work. I wrote this tribute to him on his 80th birthday.”
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan: “Girish Karnad, His scripts both awe and inspire me. He has left behind many inspired fans who are writers. Their works perhaps will make his loss partly bearable.”
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala: “Litterateur par-excellence, actor, director, playwright and activist- the passing away of Girish Karnad shall leave an irreplaceable void in the Indian creative arena. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fans. May his soul rest in peace.”
