‘Chola’, ‘Operation Java’ actor Akhil Viswanath found dead at 30

Actor Akhil Viswanath, who played a pivotal role in the critically-acclaimed movie ‘Chola’, was found hanging at his residence on Friday. The news of his demise was shared by actor Manoj Kumar on social media. “Why did you do it, Akhil?” read Manoj’s social media post. Meanwhile, filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan who directed ‘Chola’ shared his heartfelt condolence to Akhil’s family. Actor Joju George who was also part of the film expressed his condolences on his Instagram handle.

Sanal Kumar wrote, “I am heartbroken by the news of young Akhil’s death by hanging. It is impossible to believe he took his own life. He was so talented. I urge his close friends to enquire why he would take such a drastic step. He battled poverty to become part of cinema. His performance in ‘Chola’ was supposed to bring him a lot of attention, but that didn’t happen. I can’t believe Akhil would die by suicide.”

Sanal added that Akhil was gearing up for a role in a movie titled ‘OTT’. His acting career began early when he won the state television award for Best Child Actor for his performance in a telefilm while still in high school. His big break came when he was working at a mobile phone shop and landed a role in 'Chola.' The film, which starred Nimisha Sajayan and Joju George in lead roles, received widespread acclaim, winning accolades at prestigious events such as the Venice Film Festival, Geneva International Film Festival, and Tokyo International Film Festival. Akhil also showcased his talent in 'Operation Java,' further establishing himself as a promising actor in the industry.