Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 unit suffers another loss; actor Kalabhavan Niju dies of heart attack
The unit of Rishab Shetty's Kantara: Chapter 1 has suffered another loss with the death of actor-mimicry artist Kalabhavan Niju. The actor who hails from Kerala died due to a heart attack, as per an OnManorama report. This is the third such death the film's unit has seen since they began shooting. (Also Read: Kantara Chapter 1 postponed? Makers of Rishab Shetty-starrer break silence)
The report states that Niju died on Thursday night in Bengaluru, where he was shooting for Kantara: Chapter 1. The 43-year-old complained of chest pain at the homestay arranged for the film's artistes and was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, he did not make it. Niju, who was most recently seen in Marco, reportedly auditioned to land the role in Rishab's film. Mimicry artist Kannan Sagar confirmed the death and said he was alerted about it at 10:30 PM on Thursday in a shared WhatsApp group.
Unfortunately, this is not the first death the unit of Kantara: Chapter 1 has seen lately. In May this year, Kannada actor-comedian Rakesh Poojary died of a cardiac arrest at a friend's wedding at age 33. Before that, in the same month, a 32-year-old junior artiste called MF Kapil from Kerala was caught in the cross current at Souparnika river and died. In November last year, a minibus carrying 20 junior artistes met with an accident in Mudoor, and they luckily escaped unscathed. Before that, an expensive set designed for Kantara: Chapter 1 was destroyed by heavy rain.
Kantara: Chapter 1 is a prequel to Rishab Shetty's 2022 hit Kantara. The film is produced by Hombale Films, which recently made the KGF and Salaar films. Rishab will play the lead role again in the film that is scheduled for release on 2 October this year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Vijay Sethupathi's Ace is streaming on OTT. Where to watch the romantic crime comedy
Even the biggest stars can have misfires, and Vijay Sethupathi 's latest outing, Ace, is a reminder that not every theatrical release hits the mark. While the film failed to generate momentum at the box office despite the buzz around its genre and cast, Ace has now found a new home on OTT. For those who missed catching it on the big screen, the romantic crime comedy is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in Tamil and Telugu. Directed and produced by Arumuga Kumar, Ace marked a notable collaboration and was also the official Tamil debut of Kannada actress Rukmini Vasanth . The movie also stars comedy mainstay Yogi Babu , B.S. Avinash, Babloo Prithveeraj, and Divya Pillai in significant roles. With music composed by Justin Prabhakaran and background score by Sam C.S., the film promised an entertaining blend of romance, crime, and comedy, though its execution on the silver screen received mixed reactions. Its tentative title, Vijay Sethupathi 51, the project generated curiosity for being Sethupathi's 51st film as lead. A year later, the film was officially titled Ace. Shot predominantly in Malaysia, the film wrapped up its shoot within six months and finally premiered in India on May 22, 2025, with a worldwide theatrical release the next day. The movie centres around Kannan, who sets out to build a new life abroad, but instead finds himself trapped in a deadly game of sharks. What begins as a bold heist soon spirals into a nightmare, forcing him to outwit destiny itself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Now streaming on Prime Video, Ace might just get a second chance to win audiences over. Whether you're a Sethupathi fan or someone drawn to quirky genre-bending stories, the film offers another shot at redemption via the OTT route.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Actor Kamal Haasan Loses Cool Over Sword Gift Stunt at MNM Meet Amid Language Row Fallout
Tempers flared at a Makkal Needhi Maiam meeting in Chennai as party chief Kamal Haasan lost his cool after a supporter attempted to gift him a sword on stage. Initially smiling for the cameras, Haasan quickly turned angry as the situation spiraled into chaos. A police officer intervened and secured the weapon, while security removed the man. Known for his rationalist and non-violent stance, Haasan's outburst comes at a time when he is already facing backlash over his Kannada language remark during the 'Thug Life' audio launch. His comment that 'Kannada was born from Tamil' has caused controversy, leading to the film being withheld from release in Karnataka. With tensions flaring on multiple fronts, is Kamal Haasan's political and cinematic credibility under fire?#KamalHaasan #SwordControversy #MNMMeeting #ThugLifeRow #KannadaTamilRow #ActorPolitician #LanguagePolitics #KamalVsSword #ThugLifeBan #KamalHaasanControversy #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews Read More
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana's Diganth: I have never catered to any other section but the multiplex crowd
Kannada actor Diganth's latest theatrical release, Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana, has him playing a left-hander, who gets caught in a series of mishaps, sparked by his left-handedness. The dark comedy suspense thriller, directed by Samarth B Kadkol, has Diganth reuniting with his Pancharangi co-star Nidhi Subbaiah (of Ajab Gazab Love fame), and introduces newbie Dhanu Harsha to Kannada cinema. Stream Doodh Peda Diganth's movies like Manasaare, Pancharangi and Gaalipata 2, etc., with OTTplay Premium Going by the trailer and the promotional material of Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana, the impression one gets is that the film is a comedy that is likely to appeal to an urban audience and not a wider section like how Upadhyaksha and Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare did. 'Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana is, most definitely, an urban comedy and not like Upadhyaksha,' says Diganth. But then, isn't the team limiting itself by being classified a 'multiplex film'? Also, given that this exactly the audience that is shunning theatres these days, does that not put them on the backfoot? 'I don't think I have ever catered to any other section, but the multiplex crowd. Even when I did Manasaare and Pancharangi, it was more of a family audience kind of comedy and drama, it was never massy or the kind that reached all the people in Karnataka. I've never done the below-the-belt kind of comedy,' explains Diganth. The actor, who has not had a great box office run with most of his recent releases, including Laughing Buddha, Marigold, Bachelor Party, etc., adds that Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana is one of those films that he did because he loved the script and not because he had bills to pay. Has there been a shift in the kind of films/roles he's been picking up? He is, after all, also a part of the upcoming gangster flick Uttarakaanda, led by Shivarajkumar and Dhananjaya. 'Uttarakaanda is the first film in which I have tried something different with my look and general appearance, a more rugged, ghutka-chewing thug. That's a film I am super excited about,' he says, and adds, 'Like I have said earlier, I am now free to experiment; I can do whatever I want in terms of the projects I do. Having said that, Uttarakaanda and Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana were conscious choices to try something different, as is my upcoming film with the makers of Shakhahaari, Kinnara Jogi, in which I play a street magician.'
