Legendary Tamil filmmaker and actor, Bharathiraja died at the age of 84 on June 10, 2026. The veteran director passed away at his residence in Chetpet, Chennai, following a prolonged battle with age-related health complications. Bharathiraja was immensely respected in the Tamil film industry. He was reportedly the pioneering figure behind bringing filmmaking out of indoor sets and into authentic rural landscapes. His demise was mourned by A-list actors such as Rajinikanth, Thalapathy Vijay, Kamal Haasan, and Mohanlal. Amid the outpouring of condolences, details of Bharathiraja’s mental health issues surfaced.
Bharathiraja suffered from a mental health issue in his final months of life
Bharathiraja was admitted to a hospital in T Nagar, Chennai, in December 2025, as his family members shared. The veteran filmmaker remained there for at least three days due to a sudden health emergency. Notably, the health deterioration occurred since the untimely death of his son, Manoj Bharathiraja, in March 2025. Manoj passed away after suffering from a cardiac arrest. At that time, he was just 48 years old. According to the director, Bharathiraja’s brother, Jayaraj Periyamayathevar, the death of his son greatly shook him, and he never recovered from the incident even after months had passed.
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