| Birth date | 31 March 1990 |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Death date | 5 August 2025 (aged 35) |
| Death place | Banashankari, Bangaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Years active | 2009–2025 |
| Occupation | Actor |
Santhosh Balaraj (31 March 1990 – 5 August 2025) was an Indian actor who predominantly worked on Kannada-language films. The son of producer Anekal Balaraj, Santhosh began his career in the lead role in Kempa. He gained popularity for his performance in the 2015 action thriller Ganapa.[1]
Career
In 2009, he played the lead role in his debut film Kempa, produced by his father Anekal Balaraj.[2] Later films include a family drama titled Olavina Ole in 2012 and action film Janma in 2013. While the former released to mixed reviews, the latter released to positive reviews.[3][4] In Ganapa, he played an innocent man forced into lawlessness. A critic wrote that "Santhosh, especially, has grown as a performer".[5][6] His last film, Kariya 2, an action romantic thriller set in the backdrop of a criminal underworld was released in October 2017.[7][8] The film opened to mixed to positive reviews, and his role as Kariya was well received.[9][10]
Personal life
He was receiving treatment for jaundice when he fell into a coma at Sagar Apollo Hospital, Bengaluru. His last film Sathyam remains unreleased.[11]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Kempa | Kempa | credited as Santhosh |
| 2012 | Olavina Ole | Narasimha | |
| 2013 | Janma | Kanteerava | |
| 2015 | Ganapa | Ganapa | |
| 2017 | Kariya 2 | Kariya |
References
- ^ "An actor for all seasons". Bangalore Mirror
- ^ "Newest Kannada movies fight it out". Rediff.com
- ^ "Olavina Ole Movie Review". The Times of India. Archived 31 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "Janma Movie Review". The Times of India
- ^ "Film Review: Ganapa". Bangalore Mirror
- ^ "Ganapa Movie Review". The Times of India
- ^ "Kariya 2 will do for Santhosh Balaraj what Kariya did for Darshan". The Times of India. 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Kariya 2 is a completely new story and has two dimensions to it, says producer Paramesh". pinkvilla.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "Kariya 2 movie review: A smartly woven tale". Bangalore Mirror
- ^ "Kariya 2 Movie Review". The Times of India
- ^ https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2025/Aug/05/kannada-actor-santhosh-balaraj-passes-away-at-38
External links
- Santhosh Balaraj at IMDb