Veteran actor and renowned theatre personality Girish Karnad passed away today morning. Karnad, who was 81, was suffering from a prolonged illness. He breathed his last in Bengaluru.

He was awarded the highest literary honour conferred in India - Jnanpith award – in 1998. He was last seen in Bollywood in Salman Khan starrer Tiger Zinda Hai as Dr Shenoy, RAW Chief.