Who Was Santhosh Balaraj? Kannada Actor, Son Of Late Film Producer, Died At 34 Due To Health Issues

The Kannada film industry is reeling from the shock of losing a well-renowned star, Santhosh Balaraj, at the age of 34. As per reports, the actor was suffering from jaundice and had been admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Santhosh was the son of Anekel Balaraj, a popular film producer, who had also met an unexpected demise after a hit-and-run accident. Though the budding actor left the world too soon, he has also left a body of work behind which will be cherished by the public forever. In remembrance of Santhosh's talents, here's everything to know about his career and beyond. 

Santhosh Balaraj was the son of film producer, Anekal Balaraj 

Santhosh Balaraj was born in 1991 to the late film producer, Anekal Balaraj, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Being from a filmy background, Santhosh's acting career was strongly tied to his father's production house, Santhosh Enterprises. The actor made his debut in 2009 as the titular character in Kempa, produced by his father, Anekal Balaraj. After this, Santhosh went on to work in many movies with his father as producer, and cemented himself in Sandalwood as a rugged action star. 

Santhosh Balaraj's impressive filmography 

After his debut film in 2009, Santhosh then starred in a family drama called Olavina Ole and Janma, an action movie. While the former received mixed reviews, Janma was well-liked by viewers. However, the turning point in Santhosh's acting career was starring in the 2015 movie, Ganapa where he played the titular role. Written and directed by Prabhu Srinivas, the film takes inspiration from true stories of the Bengaluru underworld. The film was a commercial hit and was also dubbed in Hindi and titled as Daada ka Vaada. One of the film's song, 'Muddagi Neenu' was sung by Sonu Nigam and was among the top ten Kannada songs of the year. 

After receiving widespread fame and love for Ganapa, Santhosh starred in Kariya 2, produced by Anekel Balaraj. This also went on to become a commercial hit, and people loved the chemistry between Santhosh and the female lead, Mayuri Kyatari. Due to its popularity, Kariya 2 was also dubbed in Hindi and released with the name, Ghajinikanth. The film remains popular for its mass-level stunt scenes, which highly entertained the viewers. Santhosh was last seen in the 2024 film, Sathyam. In an earlier interview with Cinema Express, Santhosh had expressed his excitement ahead of Sathyam's release and said:

"Even my late father and producer Anekal Balraj had heard and appreciated the storyline, but he couldn’t watch the film. Witnessing the reactions to the teaser fills me with happiness. The film has shaped up exceptionally well."

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The unexpected demise of Anekel Balaraj, Santhosh Balaraj's father 

Santhosh Balaraj and his father, Anekel Balaraj were gearing up for the release of their next film together, Berkeley. The film also starred, Simran Natekar of the 'No Smoking' ad fame, however an unexpected tragedy struck the family. While crossing the road for an ATM, the 64-year-old film producer was hit by a bike and sustained grievous injuries on the head. Anekel Balaraj was immediately rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries on May 15, 2022. 

A teaser for Berkley was released in 2021, but the last film of the father and son together could not see the light of day in a cinema theatre. A look at Santhosh's IMDb page still shows Berkeley as under production. After this unfortunate incident befell the family, Santhosh had gradually tried to find his footing in Sandalwood and carry his father's name forward with pride. 

Santhosh Balaraj's death was reportedly due to health complications 

Santhosh Balaraj had been admitted to a hospital around July after he was diagnosed with jaundice. The actor was admitted to the intensive care unit after his condition worsened, as per a report by The Week. The same report suggested that liver and kidney issues had led to more complications and severe jaundice. Reports had made headlines earlier this week stating that Santhosh had slipped into a coma. Citing multiple organ failure, Santhosh Balaraj's demise was declared on August 5, 2025. The late actor is survived by his mother and sister. As per a Cinema Express report, the unmarried actor was gearing up for his wedding plans, however, this has not been officially confirmed. 

Condolences to the loved ones of the late Kannada star, Santhosh Balaraj. 

Also Read: Actor, Shanawas Passed Away At The Age Of 70 After A Prolonged Health Battle, Funeral Today

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