Kannada film director Guruprasad was found dead in a residential complex in the outskirts of the city on Sunday, police said.
The 52-year-old director is suspected to have died by suicide, newas agency PTI reported. The incident occured in Madanayakanahalli police station limits.
"Film maker Guruprasad was said to be upset about something, about his film or some other issue. We have heard that he was facing financial stress... five to six days back, neighbours had seen him coming to this house, after that he had apparently not stepped out. It appears that he hanged himself five to six days back and died," CK Baba, Superintendent of Police (SP), Bengaluru Rural told PTI.
Briefing reporters, he said, "... after seeing the body, we have registered the case and we will investigate the matter." Guruprasad was known for his films -- Mata, Yeddelu Manjunatha among others.
According to police sources, the body was found in a decomposed state hanging from a ceiling fan in the flat, and neighbours alerted the police after a foul smell caught everyone’s attention.
The body has been shifted for post-mortem, they said.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai in a post on X offered his condolences. "It is a sad fact that famous film director Guruprasad has passed away. He has given many good films to Karnataka. It is very painful that he committed suicide. May god rest his soul in eternal peace. Om Shanti," Mr Bommai wrote in Kannada.
Some reports suggest that Guruprasad may have been under pressure from creditos, allegedly leading him to take this severe step. The director, who recently remarried, was also facing financial challenges, including those related to unpaid purchases.
( with inputs from agencies)
(Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the local mental health professional if you or someone you know is in need of help.)