Playwright, actor, and director Yashwanth Sardeshpande (60), known for his roles in comedy, passed away in Bengaluru on Monday morning (September 29). As per The Hindu, the late actor passed away due to a massive heart attack. He fell ill around 10 am and was rushed to Fortis Hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.
Who was Yashwanth Sardeshpande?
Yashwanth Sardeshpande was born in Ukkali, Basavana Bagewadi taluk, Vijayapura district, Karnataka, and was committed to acting from a very young age. As per The Hindu, he started performing in theatre early and was later trained at the well-known Ninasam theatre school in Heggodu, getting a diploma in theatre.
After struggling in his initial days, he and other Ninasam graduates went on to start the theatre group ‘Guru Samsthe’ in Hubballi.
Yashwanth’s breakthrough came in the theatre industry with the comedy play ‘All The Best’, a Kannada adaptation of a Marathi original. The play became a massive hit, with over 500 shows. These shows not only stayed confined to Karnataka, but even overseas.
His wife, Malathi Sardeshpande, a well-known theatre and television artist, was part of the team. The success of the play led to several more popular comedies by the group, making him a household name in theatre circles.
Yashwanth Sardeshpande’s film and television work
Though theatre was his first love, Yashwanth also did many television shows and Kannada films. He became a known face with ‘Rama Shyama Bhama’, starring Kamal Haasan and Arvind, where his North Karnataka dialect dialogues were widely praised. He also produced and directed ‘Idea Madyaara… Nagalikke’, a Kannada comedy that didn’t perform well at the box office, but showed his commitment to storytelling and humour.
Training future actors
Yashwanth was passionate about training young actors. He built a theatre school with an auditorium on a one-acre plot in Hubballi to encourage young talent. Though it didn’t achieve the success he had hoped for, the school showed his passion and dedication towards acting and his desire to pass on knowledge to future artists.
Tributes pour in
News of his death has left fans, colleagues, and the theatre community in mourning. Leaders including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai, and Karnataka Legislative Council Chairperson Basavaraj Horatti have expressed condolences to the family.
“Saddened to hear the news of the passing of the state’s renowned Kannada theatre actor and director, Mr. Yashwant Sardeshpande. I pray that God will grant eternal peace to his soul and give strength to his family, drama lovers, and fans to bear this pain,” Dr. M Chandrappa, Member of Legislative Assembly – Holalkere Constituency posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Member of Parliament Pralhad Joshi took to Facebook to pay tribute. “It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing away of our Hubballi native Shri Yashwant Sardeshapande, a renowned Kannada theatre actor of the state, who acted and directed in many plays across the state and was a very popular playwright. His play All the Best was an unprecedented success. He also acted in television and films,” his post read.
“I pray that God may grant eternal peace to his soul and give strength to his family, drama lovers, and fans to bear this pain. Om Shanti,” his post further read.
Yashwanth’s contribution to Kannada theatre, memorable performances, and efforts to mentor young talent leave a lasting legacy.