He was 81. Girish Karnad (19 May 1938 – 10 June 2019) was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a Rhodes Scholar, who predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. He was suffering from illness from the past couple of years. He was suffering from respiratory disorder for quite some time. Bengaluru: J nanpith awardee, actor and writer Girish Karnad passed away at his residence in Bengaluru, today (June 10) due to multiple organ failure. Noted playwright, actor and filmmaker Girish Karnad passed away on Monday morning in Bengaluru. Karnad, a recipient of Jnanpith Award, was also conferred the Padma Shri in 1974 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992. Karnad is said to have suffered multiple organ failure and breathed his last around 6.30 am. Actor, playwright Girish Karnad died of multiple organ failure. No state honours during funeral, says Girish Karnad's family. Karnad was born in Matheran, Maharashtra in 1938. After graduating from Karnataka University in 1958, Karnad studied philosophy, politics, and economics as a Rhodes scholar at the University One of India's best known playwrights and actor and filmmaker Girish Karnad is no more. Girish Karnad, Indian playwright, author, actor, and film director whose movies and plays, written largely in Kannada, explore the present by way of the past. Tribute Girish Karnad (1938-2019): Tributes roll in for revered writer, filmmaker and public intellectual Karnad died at the age of 81 after suffering from a prolonged illness. He is the recipient of Jnanpith Award for Kannada, the highest literary honour conferred in India. His rise as a ... Girish was the third of the four children born thereafter. Girish Karnad Biography Girish Raghunath Karnad was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer. Career.