Bangalore: Theatre artiste, cinema actor C R Simha dies at 72

Bangalore, Feb 28 (TNN): Veteran Kannada theatre and cinema actor CR Simha, passed away on Friday at a private hospital in Bangalore. He was 72.

The actor had been battling prostrate cancer for over a year and had recently been hospitalized after his health deteriorated.

The brother of Kannada actor Srinath, Simha started acting at a very young age. While he has worked in over 150 Kannada films, both art-house and commercial, theatre was his first love, having written, directed and acted in several plays over the years, including Kakanakote and Thuglaq. He had directed the big screen version of Kakanakote as well.

He was instrumental in starting the theatre groups Nataranga (1972) and subsequently, Vedhike a decade later. His one-man show Typical Kailasam was a big hit and was the first amateur Kannada play to be staged abroad.

As an avid writer, Simha also had a column with a leading Kannada daily for six years, which have been published as books in three volumes.

As news of the actor's passing spread, Sandalwood actors took to their micro-blogging pages with condolences messages.