Bengaluru: Noted Kannada actor Chandrashekhar (63), popularly known as ‘Edakallu Chandrashekhar,’ passed away in the wee hours today in Canada.

His daughter Tanya, based out of Bengaluru, told reporters that her father had suffered a massive cardiac arrest.

Chandrashekhar had debuted as a child artiste with ‘Namma Makkalu’ in 1969 but got his big break from the 1973 film ‘Edakallu Guddada Mele,’ a film directed by Puttanna Kanagal where he played the role of Nanjunda. He had acted in over 40 films to date and his last film ‘3 ghante, 30 dina, 30 second’ is ready for release. Another film ‘Raju Kannada Medium,’ in which he acted in, is running in theatres now.

Chandrashekhar, after an initial prolific career, shifted to Canada after his marriage to dancer Sheela in 1984 and had remained away from Kannada film industry before his return in 2004 when he directed and acted in ‘Poorvapara’ with leading actress Geetha. He later shuttled between Bengaluru and Canada, doing a few supporting roles.

His daughter Tanya said he was in Bengaluru and had gone back to Canada just 10 days ago. “Yesterday night I spoke to him when he was shifted to a hospital. He only said he had a slight pain, but I got a call at around 3.30 am saying he passed away,” she told media persons. The family is yet to decide whether the body will be brought to Bengaluru or the last rites conducted in Canada.