The popular small screen hero Venki also a Kannada film actor died of massive heart attack on Monday evening. He was just 35 years. Definitely it was not an age to die. He leaves behind his wife Seema a teacher cum small screen actress and a cute child of seven years.
On Monday Venki worked from morning at HN Kalakshetra and prepared the lighting arrangements for a theatre play of Prema Karanth. He went home to come afresh to take part in further activities in the evening. Sadly he had to bid good bye to his life due to severe heart attack.
Venki alias Venkatesh began his career as a child actor at the age of 8. He joined the ‘Spandana’ theatre group headed by Jayasri and played a prominent role in ‘Neeli Kudhure’. Later he joined Shanker Nag’s ‘Sanketh’ troupe and worked as assistant to Shankernag. He figured first in Doordarshan television serial ‘Kelidhira’. Failing to get a suitable job he associated more with theatre. Ranga Sampadha, Benaka, Prayoga Ranga are the other theatre troupes Venki involved himself. He traveled Mumbai, Delhi, Poona, Calcutta, and Lucknow to stage plays. His silent mono acting was very popular and it completed 250 shows.
From Kodlu Ramakrishna’s ‘Kadambari’ Venki figured in big screen but till today he had the worry for not making big on small screen. Gilibete, Srimathi, Mane Devru, Kandalli Gundu, Shiv Sainya, Rangoli, Pattanakke Banda Putta and others are some of the films Venki had acted.
In small screen Venki has acted in over 450 episodes and he was picked for his acting and dialogue delivery. From Shakthi to the present Silly Lalli Venki made a firm foot in small screen with theatre stage plays slowing down.
He was a prolific singer of folk songs. On the day Nagathihalli Chandrasekhar hosted party for the release of his books and honoring this year national award winners at Cosmo Club in Jayanagar – August 15th Venki was in full swing with Prakash Rai, Kari Subbu, Sudha Kumuta, Kitty, Nagendra Shah, Shashikumar and others. At the zoom of Venki at party the giants like Dr.U.R.Ananthamurthy and Dr.Chandrasekhar Kambara took part in singing folk songs. Totally charged Venki took the plastic bucket to produce the right rhythm of tabla.  
He was a lovable person throughout his life. We miss this rare actor. Chitraloka joins innumerable and condole the death of Venki.