Kochi, June 7:

Malayalam cinema lost one of its most versatile and beloved actors on Saturday night with the passing of Salim Kumar, the National Award-winning performer whose remarkable journey from mimicry stages to the pinnacle of Indian cinema inspired generations. He was 56.

Salim Kumar breathed his last at Amrita Hospital in Kochi, where he had been undergoing treatment for multiple health complications. His condition had reportedly worsened in recent days, leading doctors to place him on ventilator support. Despite the efforts of a team of specialists, he succumbed late in the night.

For several years, the actor had been battling serious liver-related ailments. Salim Kumar had publicly clarified that his liver cirrhosis was a hereditary condition and not the result of alcohol consumption. He had often spoken about the challenges of living with the disease and the emotional toll it took on him.