Veteran Malayalam actor Salim Kumar on ventilator

Veteran Malayalam actor Salim Kumar has been hospitalized and placed on ventilator support in Kochi following health complications. The 56-year-old National Award winner is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital, according to authorities.

Hospital officials confirmed his admission and that he is under close medical supervision, but have not yet disclosed the exact nature of his current condition. They stated a detailed medical update would be provided following a comprehensive assessment. It remains unclear if this latest health scare is connected to the actor's known, pre-existing liver-related ailments, for which he has received treatment in recent years.

The news has prompted an outpouring of concern from fans and colleagues across the Malayalam film industry, with many expressing hopes for his recovery on social media.

Salim Kumar is widely regarded as one of the most versatile performers in South Indian cinema. Beginning his career in mimicry and stage performances, he entered films in the late 1990s and quickly became a household name through a series of memorable comedic roles in movies such as "Kalyanaraman," "Punjabi House," and "C.I.D. Moosa."