Veteran Indian actor Girish Karnad dies at 81

Celebrated Indian actor and playwright Girish Karnad died in Bengaluru early this morning. He was 81.

Karnad succumbed to a prolonged illness at his residence in the south Indian city.

He made his acting and screenwriting debut in a 1970 release called Samskara, which went on to win the President's Golden Lotus Award.

Karnad, who predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood, was conferred the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and India's highest literary honour - Jnanpith Award.

Apart from his exemplary body of work, he was also known for his activism and his fearless political voice,