Tamil actor Daniel Balaji, 48, dies of heart attack in Chennai

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Tamil actor Daniel Balaji died of a heart attack on Friday (March 29) night at a private hospital in Chennai. Reportedly, he complained of chest pain on Friday, after which he was rushed to a hospital in Chennai’s Kottivakam. He died despite getting treatment. His body has been taken to his residence in Purasaiwalkam for final rites. He was 48 years old, and his sudden demise came as a huge shock to his fans and the Tamil film industry. Many Tamil actors, directors and producers are expected to pay last respects to him later today, March 30.

Daniel Balaji was known for playing villain roles in films. His performance as Amudhan in director Gautham Menon and Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’ still remains to be one of the iconic antagonist roles in Tamil cinema. More details regarding the cremation are awaited.

Soon after the news about Daniel Balaji’s death broke, his fans and friends took to social media to convey their shock and sadness.

Director Mohan Raja paid tribute to Balaji and wrote that he was his inspiration to join the film institute.

Here’s the post:

Balaji started his career as a unit production manager in Kamal Haasan’s unfinished dream project, ‘Marudhunayagam’. He also forayed into television by playing a memorable role in Radikaa Sarathkumar’s ‘Chithhi’. In the television serial, he portrayed the role of Daniel, earning him the screen name, Daniel Balaji.

In 2022, he made his acting debut in the Tamil film, ‘April Madhathil’. It was Gautham Menon and Suriya-Jyotika’s ‘Kaakha Kaakha’, which catapulted him to fame. He also appeared as the antagonist in Vetri Maaran’s ‘Polladhavan’. After ‘Kaakha Kaakha’, he once again collaborated with Gautham Menon for ‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’, where he played the role of Amudhan with style.

Some of his famous films include Ajith’s ‘Yennai Arindhaal’, Simbu’s ‘Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada’, Thalapathy Vijay’s ‘Bairavaa’, Dhanush’s ‘Vada Chennai’, and Vijay’s ‘Bigil’. He was last seen in ‘Ariyavan’.

Apart from Tamil films, Daniel Balaji also starred in a handful of Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada movies.