The 51-year-old actress was found unconscious in her hotel room and was taken to a local hospital but was already dead, according to an Indian Express report. Director Sibi Malayil told the Malayalam Manorama that she had died of cardiac arrest. 

The younger sister of actresses Urvashi and Kalaranjini, Kalpana was seen often in comedic roles but also could surprise moviegoers in dramatic roles. Perhaps the best example of it was her performance in the film Thanichalla Njan which earned her the national award in 2012. Her last role in the film Charlie has also received critical acclaim and is still running in theatres in Kerala. 

Kalpana made her debut in MT Vasudevan Nair’s film Manj in 1983 and has acted in over 300 films that included Tamil and Telugu movies. 

On social media, actors and fans expressed their sorrow over the passing of the veteran actress: