Anirudh, Bharati meet CM Siddaramaiah over Vishnuvardhan memorial

BENGALURU: Late actor Vishnuvardhan’s wife Bharati Vishnuvardhan, son-in-law Anirudh and others met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday to discuss plans for a Vishnuvardhan memorial. There is a growing demand for the late Dr Vishnuvardhan, a legendary actor and fan favorite, to be posthumously awarded the Karnataka Ratna Award. It is likely that the government will take a decision on this on September 4 and make an announcement.

Vishnuvardhan, who made a name for himself at the national level, has rendered immense service to the state, language, movies and art. There have been long-standing demands for him to be awarded the Karnataka Ratna Award, a prestigious honour. His son-in-law met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday and discussed the issue of the Abhiman Studio land.

During the meeting, the government reportedly brought up the matter of awarding Vishnuvardhan the Karnataka Ratna Award posthumously, following demands from fans and Kannada film stars.

ಭಾರತಿ ವಿಷ್ಣುವರ್ಧನ್ ಮತ್ತು ಅನಿರುದ್ಧ್ ಅವರು ಇಂದು ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ಅವರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಯಾಗಿ ವಿಷ್ಣು ಸ್ಮಾರಕ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕ್ಕೆ 10 ಗುಂಟೆ ಜಾಗ ಒದಗಿಸಬೇಕು ಹಾಗೂ ವಿಷ್ಣುವರ್ಧನ್ ಅವರಿಗೆ ‘ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರತ್ನʼ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ನೀಡುವಂತೆ ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡಿದರು. pic.twitter.com/qIcuJeSV11

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) September 3, 2025

Earlier, former minister Jayamala, senior actress Shruti, actress Malavika Avinash, and others met Siddaramaiah and requested that Vishnuvardhan be awarded the ‘Karnataka Ratna Award.’

Vishnuvardhan’s 75th birth anniversary is scheduled for September 18, and it is likely that the Karnataka government will announce the award on this occasion.

After meeting the CM, Anirudh Jatkar told the media that they had requested permission for 19 guntas of land at Abhiman Studio to build a memorial. The CM responded positively, he said and added that they expect to receive permission within the next few days. The CM also reportedly said that he would discuss the Karnataka Ratna Award in the cabinet meeting tomorrow, and an announcement is likely to be made.