Veteran South Indian actor ‘Delhi’ Ganesh, known for his memorable roles in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada cinema, passed away after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.

He died in Chennai on Saturday night due to age-related complications.

Delhi Ganesh has acted in nearly 400 films in his career spanning four decades. He became widely recognized for his comedic timing, emotional depth, and versatility in both leading and supporting roles.

His portrayals of relatable, middle-class characters endeared him to generations of audiences, and his death left a void in the industry that many felt could not be filled.

Delhi Ganesh served in the Indian Air Force from 1964 to 1974 before entering the film industry.

Her acting career debuted with the 1976 film Pattina Pravesam, directed by iconic filmmaker K. Balachander.

Some of his most notable works include Engamma Maharani (1981), Nayakan (1987), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Michael Madana Kamarajan (1990), Aahaa..! (1997) and Thenali (2000).

He has also often portrayed influential character roles in popular Telugu films such as Jaitra Yatra and Punnami Naagu as well as Malayalam classics such as Devasuram and Dhruvam.

Apart from films, Delhi Ganesh also made a significant impact on Tamil television and gained popularity with his role in the 1996 serial Ragasiyam.

His last film role was in Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2.

Delhi Ganesh received many awards for his contribution to cinema, including the Tamil Nadu State Film Award and the prestigious Kalaimamani Award for his performance in Pasi (1976).

Over the years, he has shared the screen with legends of South Indian cinema like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Suriya and Vijayakanth.

Following his death, social media was flooded with tributes praising his humble nature and down-to-earth personality despite his success.

His legacy will live on through roles that touched audiences and continue to be cherished. Delhi Ganesh also introduced his son Mahadevan, also known as Maha, to the Tamil film industry.