Best known for her comic roles, veteran Malayalam actress Kalpana Ranjani better known as Kalpana, passed away while in Hyderabad where she was shooting a Telugu film.
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.
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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:
RIP Kalpana Chechi! A fine actor and a finer human being! You will be missed forever!!! What a sign off in ‘Charlie’!!!
— Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) January 25, 2016
So sad to hear about the passing away of Kalpana. She was my pair – Chinna Paappa in part 2.. RIP Chechchi. pic.twitter.com/E4ucLhnCnB
— Mohan Raman (@actormohanraman) January 25, 2016
Malayalam actor and comedienne par excellence Kalpana passes away at 51! I will always remember her joie and freewheeling banter. RIP
— J (@jiteshpillaai) January 25, 2016
Deeply saddened and shocked to hear the sudden demise of one of my fav actress Kalpana Chechi!💔💔what an actress!huge loss indeed!RIP Chechi!
— priyamani (@priyamani6) January 25, 2016
#RIP Kalpana… Thank you for all those laughs…
— vadakkus (@vadakkus) January 25, 2016