National Award-winning actor-turned-writer-director and acclaimed mimicry artiste Salim Kumar passed away due to cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here at 10.43 p.m. on June 6 (Saturday). He was 57.

He was rushed to the hospital with fever and shortness of breath around 2.50 a.m., and was immediately placed on ventilator support. He had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease on maintenance haemodialysis, coronary artery disease and had also undergone a liver transplant.

“He was initiated on ventilator support, antibiotics, dialysis and other life-saving measures. During the hospital stay, he suffered a cardiac arrest and despite maximum possible resuscitative measures, could not be revived,” said the medical bulletin issued by the hospital late in the night.

People from all walks of life kept pouring into the hospital through the night as soon as his demise was confirmed. His mortal remains will be kept for public homage at his home town, North Paravur, on Sunday, followed by the funeral in the evening.

He was born to Gangadharan and Kausalya in Chittattukara, North Paravur, on October 10, 1969. His father being an atheist, named him simply Salim so that he would not be identified with any religion. The suffix “Kumar” was later added at the insistence of his school authorities. He studied at Government LPS, Chittattukara and Government Boys High School, North Paravur, before completing his pre-degree at SNM College, Malyankara. Salim Kumar enrolled for a BA at Maharaja’s College, Kochi, on the strength of his mimicry talent and was driven by the dream of entering the film industry.