Renowned Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh, celebrated for his versatile roles across Tamil cinema, has passed away at the age of 80. His son Mahadevan revealed on Instagram that it was because of poor health. "We profoundly sorry to report to you our father, Mr. Delhi Ganesh has passed away on 9th November around 11 pm," his son wrote in an Instagram Story to break the news.

The Tamil actor, who began working with renowned filmmaker K Balachander on Pattina Pravesam (1976), was from Delhi, as his name implies, and was an active member of the theatre group Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha. After ten years of service in the Indian Air Force, the actor—who was given the name Delhi Ganesh by K Balachander—went on to appear in over 400 films during his career. His most recent appearance was in Kamal Haasan's Indian 2.

Delhi Ganesh was regarded as one of Kollywood's most versatile actors and appeared in most of Kamal Haasan's films, from Indian 2 to Nayagan. Among his most influential roles were in the following films: Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Nayakan (1987), Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Aahaa..! (1997), and Thenali (2000). The actor who starred in Aranmanai 4 has appeared in Hindi, Telugu, and Malayalam films. For his role in Pasi, he received the 1979 Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize. In 1994, the Tamil Nadu government gave him the Kalaimamani Award.

Expressing his condolences, Kamal Haasan, who worked closely with Ganesh on numerous projects, including Indian 2, said, “Delhi Ganesh was not only an exceptional actor but also a beloved friend and a mentor to many. His dedication to the art of cinema will forever inspire those who follow in his footsteps.”

Delhi Ganesh’s family, friends, and fans are in mourning as they celebrate his legacy in Tamil cinema. The actor is survived by his wife and son, and his funeral will be held in Chennai, where admirers and colleagues are expected to pay their final respects to a legend whose work continues to touch hearts.