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.
According to Jayaraj, Bharathiraja’s health condition worsened due to him being unable to deal with the grief of losing his son. The Tamil filmmaker’s brother also shared that Manoj’s passing took a toll on his father’s mental health. From then on, Bharathiraja needed medical attention every now and then as his broken heart affected his physical condition as well. Jayaraj shared the details when his brother was admitted to the Chennai hospital on December 27, 2025, due to severe lung infections. Some reports at that time also suggested that Bharathiraja was so ill that he had to be admitted to the ICU, although his family didn’t confirm the information.
More about Bharathiraja’s son, Manoj Bharathiraja
Manoj was born on September 11, 1976, to legendary director, Bharathiraja in Theni, Tamil Nadu. He made his acting debut in the 1999 romantic film, Taj Mahal. The film was directed by his father, Bharathiraja. In his debut, Manoj shared screen space with Riya Sen, who was the female lead. He also starred in films including Kadal Pookkal, Alli Arjuna, Viruman, Maanaadu, Samudhiran, Varushamellam Vasantham, Eera Nilam, Annakodi, and Baby.
Besides acting, Manoj worked as an assistant director on films such as Nadodi Thendral, Kizhakku Cheemayile, Bombay, and Enthiran. He made his directorial debut with the 2023 film, Margazhi Thingal. For those unaware, the film also stars Bharathiraja, Suseenthiran, Shyam Selvan and Rakshana. Coming to his personal life, Manoj was married to his longtime girlfriend, Nandana. Manoj and Nandana got married in November 2006. Following their wedding, the couple hosted a grand and star-studded reception in Chennai. The duo also shared screen space in the film, Saadhuriyan. The couple shared two daughters.
Manoj Bharathiraja once had suicidal thoughts
In an interview with Cinema Vikatan, Manoj recalled a dark phase of his life. He shared that at that time, he battled with acute depression due to his constant eight-year-long struggle in the film industry. Despite his efforts, Manoj faced constant rejections. Even his father’s legacy didn’t bring him opportunities, deepening his frustration. Manoj admitted that during that phase, he had suicidal thoughts. However, it was his wife, Nandana and two daughters who helped him to overcome these struggles.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Bharatiraja family as they deal with two losses back to back in a span of a few months.
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