Kochi, Aug 2 (UNI) Actor and mimicry artist Kalabhavan Navas was found dead in a hotel room in Chottanikkara on Friday night, suspected to have suffered a heart attack.
He was 51. He is survived by his wife, Rehana, a film and television actress, and their three children—Naharin, Rihan, and Ridwan.
Navas had arrived in Chottanikkara for the shoot of the film Prakambanam. After completing the shoot, he returned to the hotel to pack his belongings. When one of the room keys was not returned for a long time, a room boy went to check and found him unresponsive. He was immediately taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
His father, Abubacker, was a noted theatre and film actor, and his brother, Niyas Bakker, is also a well-known actor in television and films.
Navas started his career in the performing arts through mimicry, gaining recognition through Kalabhavan, a renowned arts troupe. He went on to act in numerous films and television serials, delivering notable performances in both lead and supporting roles.
He made his film debut in 1995 with Chaitanyam and later appeared in several popular films, including Thillana Thillana, Mayajalam, Mandrake, Mailanchi Monjulla Veedu, Kasaba, and Mattupetty Machan.
His death comes at a time when he was becoming increasingly active in the film industry. His body has been shifted to the mortuary, and further details are expected after the post-mortem, which is scheduled for today. The police have visited the hotel and begun collecting information.
