R. S. Shivaji, the brother of Kollywood director Santhana Bharathi, has been reported dead at age 66. What he died of, biography, net worth, family explored.
R. S. Shivaji had a successful career in the Indian entertainment industry.
He was a famous actor and comedian whose career spanned decades.
Born to an actor, Shivaji appeared in over 100 of movies and primarily played comedy roles and regularly featured in Kamal Haasan’s films in the 1980s and 1990s.
He played important roles in Kolamavu Kokila and Dharala Prabhu as Nayanthara’s father and Vivek’s assistant, respectively.
However, on September 2, 2023, the world learned about his tragic passing and following his death, fans were curious to know more about his life, death and career.
What was RS Shivaji’s cause of death?
Actor and comedian RS Sivaji has died suddenly at the age of 66 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
He passed away in the Indian city of Chennai on Saturday morning.
A Facebook post, believed to be shared by a relative, confirmed the news of his death.
It read: ” My appa RS Shivaji had a cardiac arrest and has passed away suddenly.
“Appa’s body is at Narayani Apartments, Kamaraj Salai, RA Puram, Chennai 28. Thank you, everyone, for all your support at this hour.”
Journalist Ramesh Bala also shared a tribute to the funnyman, who made his film debut in the 1980s, on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He wrote: “Popular Tamil Character/Comedy Actor #RSShivaji passed away in Chennai this morning.
“He acted in this Friday’s release #LuckyMan and has done several memorable roles including #ApoorvaSagodharargal etc.
“May his soul RIP!”
Who were RS Shivaji’s parents?
Sivaji was born on October 26, 1956, in Chennai, India.
He was born into an entertainment family as his father, M. R. Santhanam was a famous actor and producer. He worked on a number of movies including films like Ellis R. Dungan’s Meera (1945).
Details about his mother were never shared online.
Did RS Shivaji have any siblings?
Sivaji was not an only child to his parents. He had one sibling, a brother named Santhana Bharathi.
Since their dad was already in the film industry, his brother also ventured into the entertainment industry as a popular actor and film director. He worked in Tamil cinema (Kollywood).
What are some of RS Shivaji’s movies? He had an impressive career
Sivaji was a Kollywood star renowned for his roles in Tamil movies.
Shivaji had over 100 movies under his belt – such as Sathya, Apoorva Sagodharangal, Michael Madana Kama Rajan and Anbe Sivam.
In fact, tragic news about his death came just 24 hours after his latest film, Lucky Man, where he starred alongside Yogi Babu was released in cinemas.
He captivated audiences with his comedic roles in Tamil movies, while also impressing in a number of hard-hitting dramas.
The actor won praise for his performance in the 2022 film Gargi, where he played the role of Sai Pallavi’s father.
Other notable roles include Soorarai Pottru, Kolamavu Kokila, Villain, 8 Thottakkal and Parris Jeyaraj.
His infamous line in 1989’s Apoorva Sagodharangal, “God, you have gone to another level”, is still widely quoted by Tamil cinema lovers.
As well as his illustrious career on the big screen, Shivaji was also a talented assistant director, sound designer and line producer.
He also displayed his acting talents on TV shows such as Kula Vilakku, Ethanai Konam Ethanai Paarvai, Anbulla Snehidhiye, Maruthani and Vallamai Tharayo.
Who was R. S. Shivaji married to?
Based on available records, R. S. Shivaji is believed to have been married but details about his wife and love life were kept private.
Hence, online, he was assumed to be single with some sources suggesting he was never engaged.
Did R. S. Shivaji have any children?
The actor-comedian was not known to be a father, hence, he had no kids. However, there were rumors he had a son but there are no substantial truth to it.
Also, no Indian news outlet ever reported on his having any children.
What was R. S. Shivaji’s net worth?
For his long years in the entertainment industry, R. S. Shivaji accumulated an estimated net worth of at least $100,000 before his death.
He accrued his fortune for his works as an Actor, Co-Director, Sound Designer, and Line Producer.