Malayalam actor Santhosh Nair dies in road accident, wife injured

Malayalam actor Santhosh Nair died after a road accident at Enathu in Kerala's Pathanamthitta and a heart attack during treatment. He was last in Mohiniyattam, which received rave reviews.

In Short

• His car collided with a lorry at Enathu in Pathanamthitta district
• Wife Shubhashree and the lorry driver were also injured in crash
• While receiving treatment, the actor suffered a heart attack at hospital

Malayalam actor Santhosh Nair died on Tuesday following a road accident at Enathu in Pathanamthitta, Kerala. According to Manorama Online, the car he was travelling in crashed into an incoming lorry. His wife, Shubhashree, was also injured in the accident, while the lorry driver sustained injuries as well.

While undergoing treatment after the crash, Santhosh Nair reportedly suffered a heart attack. He later succumbed to his condition. The actor had been a familiar presence in Malayalam cinema for decades, with a career that began in 1982 and stretched across more than 100 films.

Santhosh Nair made his screen debut with the 1982 film Ithu Njangalude Katha. Over the course of his career, he appeared in a wide range of roles, including villainous parts, lead roles, supporting characters and comedic performances.

Born on November 12, 1960, in Thiruvananthapuram, Santhosh Kesavan Nayar came from a well-educated family. His father, CN Kesavan Nair, was a retired headmaster, and his mother, P Rajalakshmiamma, was a retired teacher. He spent his early years in Pettah with his two sisters and was raised by his maternal grandparents after his parents moved to Ethiopia.

He completed his schooling at St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School and later studied mathematics at Mahatma Gandhi College. During his college years, he was actively involved in politics. While his sisters went on to become gynaecologists, he chose acting as his career.

His most recent film, Mohiniyattam, is currently running in theatres and now stands as his final on-screen appearance. Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam, starring Saiju Kurup, is also preparing for its digital release. The film released in theatres on April 10 and serves as a sequel to Bharathanatyam (2024). It will begin streaming on Netflix from May 8.

Directed by Krishnadas Murali, the film follows Sasidharan Nair's family as they are caught in a tense situation. The cast includes Suraj Venjaramoodu, Santhosh Nair, Vinay Forrt and Jagadish, among others.

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