The South film industry is currently experiencing a wave of grief, with news of the passing of several artists coming one after another. First, Kalabhavan Navas passed away, and then fans were shocked by the sudden demise of Shanavas, superstar Prem Nazir's son and actor.
Entertainment: The South Indian film industry is once again in mourning. Kannada film's young and talented actor Santosh Balraj passed away at the young age of 34. The actor was admitted to a private hospital due to jaundice, but his condition deteriorated during treatment, and he passed away.
Career Beginnings and Cinematic Journey
Santosh Balraj began his career in 2009 with the film 'Kempa'. In this film, he acted alongside experienced artists such as Avinash, Ruchitha Prasad, and Pradeep Singh Rawat. In his very first project, he garnered the attention of audiences and critics with his b performance. After this, he worked in several hit films, including 'Kariya 2', 'Ganapa', 'Satyam', and the recently discussed film 'Berkeley'.
The film 'Kariya 2' was produced by his father, Anekal Balraj, under the banner of Santosh Enterprises (SE), which received a good response from the audience and has an IMDb rating of 7.1.
Jaundice Claims Life
According to media reports, Santosh Balraj had been suffering from jaundice for some time. Following this, he was admitted to a private hospital in Bangalore. However, despite treatment, his condition did not improve, and he breathed his last in the hospital. His untimely demise has sent a wave of grief through the Kannada cinema industry. His fans, co-stars, and cinema lovers are paying tribute to him on social media.
His Notable Films
Santosh Balraj, in his short but impactful career, gave many films that are still remembered today:
- Kempa (2009) – Debut in acting
- Ganapa (2015) – Crime and action-based film
- Kariya 2 (2017) – Gangster drama, very popular among audiences
- Satyam (2024) – Recent release, Santosh's performance was praised
- Berkeley (2025) – One of his last films, in which he worked with stars like Charan Raj and Simran Natekar
Family Background and Personal Life
Santosh Balraj was the son of well-known film producer Anekal Balraj, who was famous for Kannada films like 'Kariya', 'Kariya 2', and 'Jackpot'. Tragically, Anekal Balraj also passed away on May 15, 2025, in a road accident. The passing of Santosh Balraj just months after his father's death is another major blow to the family.
Santosh was unmarried and lived with his mother. His life was very simple, and he stayed away from controversies despite being involved in the film industry. The death of Santosh Balraj is a great loss for the South Indian film industry. Following the recent news of the deaths of actors Kalabhavan Navas and Shanavas (Prem Nazir's son), the passing of Santosh Balraj is yet another blow to the industry.
