Malayalam actor Ambika Rao dies of cardiac arrest, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas pay tribute

Actor Ambika Rao, who was popular for playing supporting roles in Malayalam film industry, breathed her last on Monday night due to cardiac arrest. As per reports, she was undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at a private hospital in Ernakulam. She has worked in widely popular Malayalam films such as Virus and Kumbalangi Nights. Also Read: Malayalam actor Kottayam Pradeep dies at 61

Several celebrities mourned the death of the veteran actress. Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming period action thriller Kaduva, took to his Instagram page and shared Ambika’s picture and wrote, “Rest in peace Ambika Chechi”, along with a heartbreak emoji.

“Rest in everlasting peace Chechi! Ambika Rao”, wrote actor Kunchacko Boban, who worked with Ambika in Virus. Tovino Thomas, who also worked with her in Virus, shared her picture on Instagram and poured in his tributes.

In 2002, Ambika forayed into Malayalam industry but her first stint was not as an actor. She began her career as an assistant director to Balachandra Menon in Krishna Gopalakrishna and subsequently went on to work in several films such as Thommanum Makkalum, Salt and Pepper, Rajamanickam, and Vellinakshatram, assisting their filmmakers.

As an actor, she is best remembered for her work in films such as Meesha Madhavan, Anuragakarikkin Vellam, and most recently in medical thriller Virus and family drama Kumbalangi Nights. As the widowed mother of two daughters in Kumbalangi Nights, her role was widely appreciated.