Kalabhavan Niju.
| Photo Credit: X (Formerly Twitter)
Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 suffered yet another loss after the passing away of actor Kalabhavan Niju. The actor, who hails from Kerala, passed away due to a heart attack.
According to Onmanorama report, Niju was taken to hospital after he complained of sever chest pain. He succumbed to a heart attack.
A popular mimicry artist from Vadanappally in Thrissur, Niju had previously starred in Unni Mukundan’s hit Malayalam films Malikappuram (2022) and Marco (2024). The actor was roped in for Kantara 2, the prequel to the 2022 sensational Kannada hit, after auditons.
The movie is set to hit the screens on October 2, 2025. With a little over three months remaining for the release of the movie, the prequel has been in the news for the unexpected deaths of the crew members.
On May 12, 2025, actor Rakesh Poojary, television personality and comedian, passed away at 34 due to a sudden cardiac arrest in Udupi. Rakesh was best known for winning the Kannada reality show Comedy Khiladigalu Season 3. A Week before Rakesh’s death, a crew member from the movie drowned near Udupi, Karnataka.
The deceased, 32-year-old MF Kapil from Kottayam, Kerala, was caught in the cross currents when he went to the Souparnika river in Kollur in Udupi. Locals rescued him from the water, but Kapil died later.
ALSO READ: ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ crew member drowns near Udupi; shoot halted
Kantara: Chaper 1 is produced by Hombale Films of KGF and Salaar fame. Arvind Kashyap is the cinematographer while Ajaneesh Loknath is the music director. Rishab will play the lead in the movie. The makers released the first-look teaser of the movie in November, 2023.
Published – June 14, 2025 12:56 pm IST