“Chiranjeevi Was Going To Be A Father Soon,”Says Kannada Superstar Yash About His  Colleague’s Death

The  entire Kannada film industry is in a  state  of shock after  the sudden  and  untimely  death  of  Chiranjeevi  Sarja.

In an  exclusive  conversation  with this writer  Kannada superstar Yash says, “We are  all stunned by  his death,  Contrary to  the information given in Wikipedia , Chiranjeevi Sarja was not 39.   He  was  only 36. Is that an age to go?  He has a younger brother. A  lot of my colleagues  from the Kannada  film industry are now concerned  about their own health and  the welfare  of their families. See,  the  corona has made all of us vulnerable and uncertain  about the  future. When something like this (Chiranjeevi Sarja’s sudden death  due to a cardiac arrest) happens, we all get deeply affected. Right  now the Kannada  film industry is  in a state  of shock.”

Yash remember Chiranjeevi  Sarja as  affable and  likeable. “He was always  smiling, always  very positive in his outlook.His  going so suddenly is  a reminder of  how fragile  human life has become.”

Adding to  Karanataka’s grief  is  the fact that  Chiranjeevi Sarju’s wife  is expecting a baby.

Says  Yash, “It is  really heartbreaking.  But Chiranjeevi was  going to be  a father soon. He has left so much unfinished business behind. He  was fine actor. He  came from a family of actors and filmmakers. His uncle Shakti Prasad was  a leading  actor  specializing in villain’s roles. Chiranjeevi’s  uncle Arjun Sarja and brother Dhruv are also actors and  Chiranjeevi’s uncle is a  a well-known director. He had cinema in his  bloodstream.”

Compounding the collective  misery of  the Kannada  film industry is  the  irresponsible attitude of  a reputed  Bollywood writer-columnist-socialite Shobhaa De who  posted a picture of Telugu  superstar Chiranjeevi on Twitter  to announce the Kannada star  Chiranjeevi Sarja’s  death.

Responds Yash, “With due respects, she could have googled Chiranjeevi Sarja’s name.That’s all it takes these days to get the correct  information.”

Yash admits  there  is widespread resentment  in  the Kannada  film industry regarding Ms De’s  bloomer. “We thought the  South film industry has  a pan-India  reach after  films like Baahubali and KGF. But it seems one Chiranjeevi is as good as  another even now on  the  pan-India platform.”

Yash says he has no idea  how the  senior and much-respected  Telugu Chiranjeevi feels  about  being mistaken for his namesake in Kannada cinema. “But it is  very insulting to someone who is  considered an  iconic star and has fans all over the world.”