After poll defeat, low-key birthday for Ambareesh

BANGALORE - After a shock defeat in the general elections, it was a low-key birthday for film actor-turned-politician M.H. Ambareesh without the usual fanfare and line-up of politicians.

A few loyal fans and Kannada film industry friends did turn up at Ambareesh’s J.P. Nagar residence here to wish him on his 57th birthday Friday but conspicuously missing were the politicians who were wooing him just weeks ago.

Three-time MP and minister of state for information and broadcasting in the previous central government, Ambareesh lost in Mandya constituency in the recently held polls.

A day before filing of poll nominations, Ambareesh was visited by former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former union minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief. And Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna called him up to wish him luck for the polls.

Ambareesh’s loss in the recent elections had its ripple effect on his birthday celebrations even when the state Congress is celebrating the inclusions of three ministers from Karnataka in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet.

The fans had brought a big cake which was placed outside Ambareesh’s house. At around 11 a.m., The actor came along with his wife and actress Sumalatha to cut the cake.

“The fans are ecstatic. Most of his fans are apolitical. We will back him on any decision that ‘anna’ (brother) takes. Though we were little disappointed by his loss in the recent elections, we are sure that Ambi anna would be seen in more films in future. We want to see more of him on celluloid,” said Sreenivas, the president of Ambareesh fans association.