Malayalam actress Ambika Rao, best known for her work in the 2019 film Kumbalangi Nights, died after suffering a cardiac arrest on Monday, June 27. She was 58. Ambika was admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam and had been undergoing treatment after she tested positive for COVID-19, Times of India has reported. She is survived by her children - Rahul and Sohan. Many notable Malayalam cinema celebrities paid their tributes and offered their condolences on social media after hearing the news of Ambika's passing among whom included Mammootty, Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban to name a notable few. 

Rest in peace Ambika Chechi. 🙏💔 pic.twitter.com/WNVZ6oeyxb

— Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) June 27, 2022

 

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Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is gearing up for the release of his Kaduva, paid his respects to Ambika on Twitter by sharing her picture and writing in the caption: "Rest in peace Ambika Chechi", along with a heartbreak emoji. Likewise, the actress' Virus co-star Kunchacko Boban expressed his condolences and wrote, "Rest in everlasting peace Chechi! Ambika Rao", while Tovino Thomas, posted her picture on Instagram and paid his tributes. 

Ambika started her career in the Malayalam film industry as an assistant director to Balachandra Menon in the 2002 film, Krishna Gopalakrishna. She later worked as an AD in films like Vellinakshatram (2004), Rajamanikyam (2005), and Thommanum Makkalum (2005) and also starred in the Tovino Thomas-starrer Virus (2019), which featured an ensemble supporting cast featuring Revathi, Kunchacko Boban, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Rahman, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Asif Ali among others. Ambika later made an appearance in a pivotal role in Fahadh Faasil's Kumbalangi Nights, which was the directorial debut of Madhu C. Narayanan, and also starred Soubin Shahir, Shane Nigam, Anna Ben among others.