Australian born Bob Christo, who essayed villain roles in several films, died at a hospital here on Sunday.
Mr. Christo, 72, was undergoing treatment at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research here after suffering a heart attack on Friday. He leaves behind his wife Nargis and two sons.
“He died a little after 4 p.m. due to left ventricle free valve rupture or cardiac rupture,” said hospital director C.N. Manjunath.
Hospital sources said doctors performed an angioplasty and stent procedure on the actor on Saturday after a cardiogram showed he had a 90 per cent block in one of the arteries.
His condition became critical when he suffered another cardiac arrest after the angioplasty. According to sources, Mr. Christo's wife, who stays in Mumbai, has arrived in Bangalore. The body will, however, be preserved till the arrival of his son, who is abroad, they said.
After his stint in Bollywood, where he acted in several hits such as Kaalia , Mard and Mr India , Mr. Christo bid adieu to the film world in 2000. He worked as director of a health and fitness centre at the Golden Palms Hotel and Spa on the outskirts of Bangalore till 2006. Mr. Christo, who shuttled between Mumbai and Bangalore, was working on an autobiography tentatively titled Bob Christo: That's My Life .
Mr. Christo has acted in more than 200 films in many languages, including Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
