He was best known for his work on stage appearing in plays in Kannada during the modern theatre movement 1970s and 1980s.
[2][3] Venkatesh was involved in the modern theatre movement in his home State of Karnataka starting the 1970s.
He appeared in Bhutto, Hamlet, Kattale Belaku, Nammolagobba Najookaiah, Aaspota, Tughlaq, Mooru Kaasina Aata, Mṛcchakatika, Macbeth, Hayavadana, Oedipus Rex and Uttama Prabhutwa Lolalotte among others.
He frequently collaborated with theatre personalities such as T. N. Seetharam, T. S. Nagabharana, Girish Karnad and M. S.
[2] On screen, he starred as a character actor, and appeared in films such as Bili Hendthi (1975), Chomana Dudi (1975), Kanneshwara Rama (1977), Kittu Puttu (1977), Accident (1985), Chapala Chennigaraya (1990), S. P. Bhargavi (1991) and Mysore Mallige (1992).