05 May,2026 02:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Santhosh Nair (Pic/X)
Malayalam actor Santhosh Nair was killed after a road accident at Enathu in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala in the early hours of Tuesday, police said.
The accident occurred around 6.30 am when the car in which Nair was travelling collided with a lorry, leaving him and his wife injured.
According to statement by the police, Nair suffered critical injuries after his chest hit by the steering wheel of the vehicle. His wife suffered a fracture in her ribs, they added. The couple have a daughter, Rajasree S. Nair. It is unclear so far is she was present in the car during that time.
Nair made his debut in cinema with the 1982 film Ithu Njangalude Katha and went on to act in over 100 films, donning a wide range of roles, including villain, hero, supporting roles etc. He has featured in several Malayalam films, including Vasantha Sena, Nishedhi, Krishna Gopalakrishna, Runway, The Tiger, Khaki, alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Naatturajavyu alongside Mohanlal, among others. He largely played negative roles in the beginning of his careers and came to be known largely for those kind of roles.
His last screen appearance was in the film Bharatanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam which was released in theatres in April. The film was a massive success and is still running in theatres. Starring Saiju Kurup in the lead, the dark comedy film is a sequel to the 2024 Malayalam film Bharatanatyam. The film will begin streaming on Netflix on May 8.
Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Santhosh Kesavan Nair grew up in a well-educated family. His father, C.N. Kesavan Nair. was a retired headmaster, and his mother was a retired teacher. He was raised by his maternal grandparents after his parents moved to Ethiopia. During his college years, he was actively involved in student politics and campus cultural activities. He often spoke fondly of his college days with Mohanlal, his contemporary at MG College. Though they were of the same age, Santhosh became Mohanlal's junior after briefly stepping away from his studies.
(with inputs from agency)
