Popular Malayalam actor and mimicry artist Kalabhavan Navas was found dead in a hotel room in Chottanikkara, Ernakulam on Friday evening (August 1). He was 51. According to several media reports, the initial suspicion is that he died due to cardiac arrest, though the exact cause of death will be confirmed after a post-mortem.
Navas found dead in hotel room
The actor was found by hotel staff after he failed to check out of his room as scheduled. Navas had returned to the hotel after wrapping up his shoot for the Malayalam film Prakambanam. When he did not appear at the reception, the staff entered his room and found him unconscious.
He was immediately rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The incident was reported to local authorities, and police have confirmed that no suspicious items or circumstances were found in the room. His body is currently kept at SD Tata Hospital in Chottanikkara, and a post-mortem examination is scheduled for today (August 2) at Government Medical College Hospital in Kalamassery.
Colleagues react to his death
According to a report in The Hindu, his body will be handed over to the family after the post-mortem.
His colleagues, who were with him on the film set earlier in the day, said he seemed perfectly fine when he left the location around 5:30 pm. They mentioned that Navas was planning to return home for a short two-day break from the shoot.
The actor is survived by his wife Rehna Navas and three children - Navas Naharin, Navas Ridwan and Navas Rihan.
Navas, who began his career as a mimicry artist, rose to fame with his talents as an actor and playback singer. He made his film debut in Chaithanyam (1995) and went on to appear in several Malayalam films and television serials.
Some of his notable works include Mimics Action 500 (1995), Hitler Brothers (1997), Junior Mandrake (1997), Mattupetti Machan, Amma Ammaayiyamma (1998), Chandamama (1999), and Thillana Thillana (2003).
