BANGALORE: At the age of 59, ‘Sahasa Simha’ Dr Vishnuvardhan, died of cardiac arrest at 2.30 am on Wednesday in Mysore. The Apthamitra (Kannada for good friend and also the name of one of his several blockbuster movies) shall no longer lend a helping hand to anyone, on screen, or off it.
Posterity may remember Vishnuvardhan the actor, winner of numerous state awards and the idol of lakhs of silver screen worshippers.
But those who have known him personally are far more likely to remember Vishnuvardhan the human being.
The actor, who kept his social work deliberately hidden from the prying eyes of the media, was known as ‘snehajivi’ (friendly person) among the film fraternity.
With a crowd of friends whose ranks cut across the bounds of religion and caste, friendship was one of the dominant themes of the actor’s off screen life.
Vishnuvardhana formed a friendship club called ‘Snehaloka’. ‘Snehaloka’ was not merely a friendship club, but also an outfit that extended the hand of friendship to those in need. Snehaloka’ donated lakhs to the Bhuj quake victims.
Vishnuvardhan went on a padayatra to help the flood victim of north Karnataka recently. “Sandalwood was late to collect funds from the public. I thought it was my duty to do something for the people of North Karnataka,” he had said then.
Unlike many actors in the film world, Vishnuvardhan took care not to be cast in roles that were misanthropic.
He appeared in roles like the ideal husband or the affectionate lover, ever ready to sacrifice all for the sake of the woman he loves. Offended when director Phai Ramachandra named his teleserial ‘Dharidra Lakshmiyaru,’ he reportedly called up the director and asked him to change the serial’s title or shelve it.
He is survived by wife Bharati, and adopted daughters Keerti and Chandana.
Vishuvardhan and his wife were vacationing for the last one week in Mysore at KingsKourt, returned to the hotel at around 6.30 pm after visiting a relative.
“At around 2.15 am on Wedneday, Vishnuvardhan complained of chest pain.
Bharathi telephoned Vikram Hospital and doctors who arrived in an ambulance, took him to the hospital,” hotel sales manager Chandrashekar said.The actor was declared brought dead by the hospital at around 2.30 am. The body had turned cold on arrival at the hospital and several attempts to revive Vishnuvardhan went in vain.
Vikram Hospital’s MD Dr Vikram told Express that the actor was being treated for diabetes for the past one week.
“The death of Vishnuvardhan was due to cardiac arrest and not diabetes,” said Dr Vikram.