New Delhi: Malayalam actress Ambika Rao passed away on Monday night in Kochi at the age of 58. The 'Kumbalangi Nights' actress was undergoing treatment for kidney-related illness when complications developed after she contracted COVID-19. It has also been reported that Ambika died of a heart attack due to the complications.
Ambika Rao, more recently known for critical successes like 'Virus' and Kumbalangi Nights' began her career as an assistant director in 2002. She has worked with renowned names like Balachandra Menon and Anwar Rasheed from the Malayalam film industry.
Her career spanned more than two decades and she worked with superstars like Mammootty in ‘Rajamanikyam’ and ‘Thommanum Makkalum’,and Dileep starrer ‘Meesha Madhavan’, ‘Salt and Pepper’ and many more.
She has also acted in films like 'Salt and Pepper’, ‘Meesha Madhavan’, ‘Thamasha’, ‘Vellam' among others. As the widowed mother of two daughters in 'Kumbalangi Nights' which released in 2019, her portrayal of the character was widely appreciated.
As news about Ambika's demise came in, condolences from across the Malayalam film industry began to pour in. Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran wrote, “Rest in peace Ambika Chechi.” Kunchacko Boban also shared a picture of Ambika and wrote, “Rest in everlasting peace Chechi!!……Ambika Rao…..(sic).”
Tovino Thomas, who also worked with her in the film 'Virus', shared her picture on Instagram to pay a tribute to the veteran actress. Fans and netizens also shared pictures of the actress with condolence messages.
Ambika is survived by her two children Rahul and Sohan.