Malayalam actor and mimicry artist Kalabhavan Niju died of a heart attack, reports Onmanorama. Reportedly, Niju experienced severe chest pain and medical personnel transported him to the hospital, but he succumbed to the heart attack.
A native of Vadanappally, Thrissur, Niju carved out a reputation as a mimicry artist. He also appeared in films such as Malikappuram and Marco. He had recently completed auditions and secured a role in Rishab Shetty's upcoming Kantara prequel Kantara: Chapter 1. Niju's demise marks the latest in a series of unexpected deaths plaguing the Rishab Shetty film.
The production mourned the loss of actor Rakesh Poojary, a comedian and television personality, who died at 34 on May 12, 2025, from a cardiac arrest in Udupi. Rakesh gained recognition after winning Comedy Khiladigalu Season 3, a Kannada reality show. Just a few days before Rakesh's demise, a member of the crew named MF Kapil drowned in the Souparnika river. Locals rescued Kapil, but he later died.
This series of unfortunate events raises concerns for the team behind Kantara: Chapter 1. How will these losses impact the final stages of the film's production and its eventual release?