Bengaluru, November 24: Former Minister leader and Kannada actor Ambareesh died on Saturday. He was 66 years of age. Earlier in the day, he was admitted to Vikram hospital in Bengaluru. His condition was said to be critical. The former minister was reported to be suffering from a kidney ailment. Ambareesh was also being treated for lung infection. The Kannada actor had opted out of the Assembly elections which were conducted in May this year after being given a Congress ticket from Mandya constituency.

The real name of Ambareesh was Malavalli Huchche Gowda Amarnath. He was born on 29 May 1952 in Doddarasinakere Village of Maddur Taluk in Mandya District of Karnataka. He started his acting career in 1972 and worked in 208 movies. Veteran Malayalam Actor Captain Raju Died at 68.

Ambareesh joined the Indian National Congress (INC) ahead of the assembly election in 1994. He quit the party two years later after being denied a ticket to contest the 1996 general elections. Ambareesh then joined the Janata Dal and contested the 1998 general elections from from his home constituency. He won that seat defeating the Congress candidate. Kollam Ajith Dies: Popular Malayalam Actor Passes Away, Mohanlal & Twitterati Pay Last Respect

He later rejoined the Congress to represent the same Mandya Lok Sabha constituency for two more terms. He was the minister of state for Information and Broadcasting in the 14th Lok Sabha, but resigned over his dissatisfaction with the Cauvery Dispute Tribunal award, though his resignation was not formally accepted.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 24, 2018 11:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).