From angry young man in films to politician: Rebel Star Ambareesh's life in pics

Ambareesh earned the moniker 'Rebel Star' after the movie 'Chakravyuha'.

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Legendary actor and former MP Ambareesh breathed his last in Bengaluru on Saturday at the age of 66. Ambareesh was the recipient of the national award for his debut film Naagarahaavu in 1972 and earned the moniker of 'Rebel Star', over the years especially after the movie Chakravyuha.

“I was asked to strut about and look in a certain fashion. I had to mouth one line. I said the line and tossed a cigarette to my mouth. I was selected. There was a certain scene in ‘Shubamangala’ in which Putanna predicted the audiences would applaud. It happened,” Ambareesh told the Hindu about how he was cast in his debut film.

Ambareesh and Shivarajkumar

With H D Devegowda and Kumaraswamy

Directed by V Somasekhar, Chakravyuha was pivotal in catapulting Ambareesh to fame. The plot revolves around the life of a policeman reduced into a pawn in the master games of politicians around him. The film was remade into Hindi as Inquilaab, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi.

Ambareesh on the sets of 'Rowdy & MLA', along with Shivarajkumar and Malashri

Ambareesh is known for playing the angry young man on screen, earning him the name 'Mandyada Gandu'. Political satire Antha (1981), starring Ambareesh and Lakshmi in the lead roles, revolves around an earnest police officer who battles against corruption in society. The film is also known to have drawn flak from the censor board for its extremely violent content. Directed by SV Rajendra Singh, the film was remade in Hindi and Telugu as Meri Aawaz Suno and Antham Kadidi Aarambam, respectively.

He also starred in hits such as Diggajaru (with Vishnu), Ranganayaki, Ellu Suttine Kote, Masanada Hoovu, Gaddu Bheranda, Operation Antha (sequel to Antha) Shubamangala and Sree Manjunatha, among others. Ambareesh also won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Masanada Hoovu.

Ambareesh and Shankarnag

With senior actors Shivaram and Srinath

Ambareesh with Rajinikanth

In a career spanning five decades, Ambareesh had acted in many hit films, and has over 200 films to his credit. He debuted along with Vishnuvardhan, who remained his friend for the rest of his life, before Vishnuvardhan passed in 2009.

Ambareesh and Vishnuvardhan

Ambareesh with his son Abhishek and actor Rajkumar

With Kichcha Sudeep

With Shatrughan Sinha

He also nursed political ambitions, and joined the Congress in 1994. While he could not be given a ticket, he campaigned for the party. When he did not get a ticket from the Congress in the 1996 general elections, he defected to the Janata Dal (Secular) and joined fellow Vokkaliga HD Deve Gowda. He then won on a JD(S) ticket in 1998 in the Lok Sabha elections, and later, rejoined the Congress.

With former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna

In his political career, he went on to be a Member of Parliament two more times, as well as the Minister of State, in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He resigned as the MoS over the Cauvery river water dispute.

Ambareesh and his wife Sumalatha with Sridevi and Boney Kapoor

Former Karnataka CM Dharam Singh with Ambareesh when Congress and JD(S) formed a coalition between 2004 and 2006

Stars from the film industries of the south, who had ruled the screens in the 80s came together for their annual bash.

Rajinikanth, Ambareesh, Chiranjeevi and Mohanlal at a Hawaii-themed reunion of the actors of the 1980s in 2014

A group photo from the Hawaii-themed reunion of the actors

With HD Kumaraswamy

Vishnuvardhan, Rajkumar, Ambareesh

Ambareesh was married to actor Sumalatha, whom he shared screen space with in several films including Aahuti, Avatara Purusha, Sri Manjunatha and Kallarali Hoovagi. They have a son, Abhishek.