Chennai: Renowned Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh passed away on Saturday night at the age of 80 due to age-related health issues. His son, Maha Devan, confirmed the sad news on social media, writing, “We deeply regret to inform that our father Dr Delhi Ganesh has passed away on 9th November 2024 at around 11 pm.”
Fans and colleagues took to social media to express their condolences, celebrating the actor’s immense contribution to Tamil cinema. “One of the greatest actors in Tamil film industry. RIP sir,” a fan wrote. Another fondly remembered, “RIP Sir, my favorite was his voice-over for Swami’s father in Malgudi Days (Swami and Friends).”
Delhi Ganesh, originally an Indian Air Force employee, transitioned to acting after a decade of service from 1964 to 1974. His career in cinema was launched by legendary director K. Balachander, who cast him in Pattina Pravesam in 1976 and bestowed him with his stage name, “Delhi Ganesh.” This marked the beginning of a prolific career spanning nearly 50 years and over 400 films.
Some of his most iconic roles included unforgettable performances in films such as Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Nayakan (1987), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), and Thenali (2000). Delhi Ganesh was a versatile actor who took on diverse roles across the Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi film industries. His last appearance was in Kamal Haasan’s upcoming film Indian 2.
Delhi Ganesh’s talent was recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize in 1979 for Pasi and the Kalaimamani Award in 1994, honoring his artistic contributions.