After the demolition of veteran actor Dr. Vishnuvardhan’s samadhi at Abhiman Studio, fans were left heartbroken. To honour the late legend, actor Kichcha Sudeep, who has always admired Vishnuvardhan, has stepped forward. He has purchased half an acre of land near Kengeri in Bengaluru to build a memorial and a viewing centre in the actor’s name.
The update was shared by Veerakaputra Srinivas, a representative of Vishnuvardhan’s fan community, during a press meet. He said fans are now left without a place to pay respects, especially with September 18, the actor’s birth anniversary, approaching. He also demanded a judicial inquiry into the Abhiman Studio land, where Vishnuvardhan was cremated, stressing that the area should be preserved as a cultural site and not misused.
The demolition of the samadhi earlier this year sparked anger among fans and the Kannada film fraternity. Since Vishnuvardhan’s death in 2009, the spot at Abhiman Studio had become a place of emotional importance. But ownership disputes led to its removal, leaving fans with no access to the site.
Srinivas revealed that the foundation stone for the new memorial will be laid on September 18, marking Vishnuvardhan’s 75th birth anniversary, while the model of the project will be presented on September 2, Sudeep’s birthday. He clarified that this initiative is not to replace the samadhi or the government memorial in Mysuru, but to keep the actor’s memory alive through fans’ love. Fans have welcomed the move as a respectful tribute to their beloved star.
