Actor and DMDK chief Vijayakanth, 71, died at a private hospital in Chennai on Thursday. He was on ventilator support after testing positive for Covid-19.
A statement by the hospital read, “Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023.”
Vijaynath was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday for a regular health check-up. At the time, the party said Vijayakanth was “healthy” and would return home after the tests.
The DMDK chief had earlier been admitted to a hospital on November 20. He was undergoing treatment for a respiratory illness at the hospital.
Vijayakanth’s journey in the public eye has been marked by his successful career in the film industry, where he acted in 154 movies, and his subsequent foray into politics.
He founded the DMDK and served as a Member of Legislative Assembly twice, representing the constituencies of Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam. His political career peaked when he became the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016.
In recent years, Vijayakanth’s health has been a concern, leading him to step back from active political engagement.
