Ambika Rao, known for her heartwarming roles in Malayalam Cinema including the critically acclaimed films like Virus and Kumbalangi Nights, passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 58 on Monday, June 27 night. The actress was in a hospital in Ernakulam undergoing the treatment for Covid-19.
Actor Ambika Rao started her acting journey in the Malayalam film industry as an assistant director in 2002 with Balachandra Menon’s Krishna Gopalakrishna and thereafter worked in several films such as Thommanum Makkalum, Salt and Pepper, Rajamanickam, and Vellinakshatram assisting their filmmakers.
Ambika Rao was well known for her entertaining performances in Virus and Kumbalangi Nights, and more
She has also played pivotal roles in widely watched films such as Meesha Madhavan, Anuragakarikkin Vellam, and most recently in critically acclaimed Kumbalangi Nights, which also featured Fahadh Faasil, Anna Ben, Shane Nigam, Soubin Shahir.
Ambika Rao also acted in the medical thriller Virus, which starred an ensemble cast including Revathi, Kunchacko Boban, Tovino Thomas, Asif Ali, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Rahman, Indrajith Sukumaran, and others. The latter was based on the 2018 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala and how the state machinery controlled it.
Stars from the Malayalam film industry mourned the demise of the veteran actress. Prithviraj Sukumaran, who will be seen next in the period action thriller Kaduva, took to his Instagram handle 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 Kunchacko Boban, who acted with the late actress in Virus, along with her picture. Her other co-star from Virus, Tovino Thomas aka the superhero Minnal Murali, also shared Rao’s picture on his Instagram and poured in his tributes.
