Actor Kalabhavan Niju, 43, died of a heart attack while filming "Kantara: Chapter 1," the third death linked to the film.

Mimicry artist and actor Kalabhavan Niju, 43, died of a heart attack while filming for "Kantara: Chapter 1" in Bengaluru on June 13, 2025. This marks the third death related to the film's production, following the deaths of Kannada actor-comedian Rakesh Poojary and junior artist MF Kapil. The fantasy action film, a prequel to Rishab Shetty's 2022 hit "Kantara," is scheduled for release on October 2, 2025.