Bengaluru, Nov 24 (IANS) Veteran Kannada cine actor M.H. Ambareesh passed away at a private hospital here on Saturday night following a heart attack, said a duty doctor. He was 66.

"Ambareesh died after a massive cardiac arrest a couple of hours after he was brought to our hospital due to breathing problem in the evening, the doctor told IANS.

The super star of the sandalwood film industry is survived by his wife and multi-lingual actress Sumalaltha and a son.

Ambareesh is also a Congress leader and former cabinet minister in the previous Congress government.

--IANS bha-fb/prs