Ambareesh (29 May 1952 – 24 November 2018) was an Indian film actor and politician known for his prolific career in Kannada cinema. Popularly addressed as the "Rebel Star" (Mandyada Gandu), he appeared in more than two hundred Kannada films across nearly five decades. He also served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and as a minister in the Government of Karnataka.
| Full name | Malavalli Huchche Gowda Amarnath |
|---|---|
| Stage name | Ambareesh |
| Born | 29 May 1952, Doddarasinakere, Mandya district, Mysore State (now Karnataka) |
| Died | 24 November 2018, Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Occupation | Film actor, politician |
| Spouse | Sumalatha (actress) |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Constituency (Lok Sabha) | Mandya |
| Languages of work | Kannada (primarily); also Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi |
Ambareesh was born as Malavalli Huchche Gowda Amarnath in Doddarasinakere, a village in Mandya district of present-day Karnataka. He was educated in Mysore and developed an early interest in cinema. He took the screen name "Ambareesh" after entering films, and the name came to be synonymous with his on-screen persona.
Ambareesh made his acting debut in 1972 in Puttanna Kanagal's Naagarahaavu, where he played the antagonist Jaleel opposite Vishnuvardhan. The film became a landmark in Kannada cinema and launched his career. He gradually transitioned from supporting and negative roles to leading roles through the late 1970s.
By the 1980s and early 1990s he was among the most bankable lead actors in Kannada cinema, headlining a long list of action and social dramas. His on-screen image as a defiant, straight-talking hero earned him the title "Rebel Star". His notable films include Antha, Chakravyuha, Ranadheera, Hrudaya Haadithu, Masanada Hoovu, Odahuttidavaru and Elu Sutthina Kote, among many others. He continued to take on character roles into the 2010s, with later appearances in films such as Shivaji Surathkal.
Ambareesh entered politics through the Janata Dal before joining the Indian National Congress. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Mandya constituency, representing the region multiple times. During the United Progressive Alliance government, he served as Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, though his tenure in the central ministry was brief.
In Karnataka, he was inducted into the state cabinet under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and held the portfolio of Housing in the Government of Karnataka. He retained a strong political base in Mandya district owing to his cultural standing among the Vokkaliga community of the old Mysore region.
Ambareesh married actress Sumalatha, who appeared in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi films. The couple had a son, Abhishek. After Ambareesh's death, Sumalatha contested and won the Mandya Lok Sabha seat in 2019 as an independent candidate, continuing his political legacy in the region.
Ambareesh died on 24 November 2018 in Bengaluru following cardiac complications. The Government of Karnataka declared a period of state mourning, and his last rites were conducted with state honours. His death drew large public gatherings in Bengaluru and Mandya.
Ambareesh occupies a distinct place in Kannada popular culture as one of the principal stars of the post-Rajkumar generation, alongside Vishnuvardhan and Shankar Nag. His persona was closely tied to the identity of the Mandya region, and he was seen as a representative figure of the Old Mysore countryside in mainstream cinema. In politics, he was among the small group of Kannada film stars who successfully transitioned to elected office at both the state and central levels.