Television and film actor Rakesh Poojary passes away at 33

Rakesh Poojary, a beloved face in the Kannada and Tulu entertainment industries, passed away at the age of 33 due to a heart attack. The tragedy unfolded during a mehendi function near Nitte in Karkala in Udupi district, where he suddenly collapsed. A case of unnatural death has been filed at the Karkala Town Police Station. Hours before his passing, Rakesh had shared a picture from the event on Instagram, which has now gone viral. Actor Rakshitha, who judged him on Comedy Khiladigalu, expressed her grief online, calling him the “sweetest, kindest, most loving person.”

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Rakesh’s artistic journey began with the Chaitanya Kalavidaru theatre group and gained momentum in 2014 through the Tulu reality show Kadala Bajil. Despite facing nearly 150 auditions, he remained undeterred and slowly built a name for himself. His big break came with the reality show Comedy Khiladigalu, where he was the runner-up in Season 2 (2018) and went on to win Season 3 in 2020, making him a household name in Karnataka.

Apart from reality television, Rakesh acted in both Kannada and Tulu films. Notable Kannada films include Pailwaan and Idu Entha Lokavayya, while his Tulu credits feature Petkammi, Umil, and Ammer Police. He remained active in theatre and coastal reality shows earning admiration across all platforms.