Veteran Tamil actor Vivek passes away; tributes pour in
The 59-year-old actor, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 for his contribution to Indian Cinema, died following a cardiac arrest at 4.35 am on Saturday.
FollowVeteran actor, comedian, playback singer and activist Vivek passed away in Chennai on Saturday. He was 59.
The 59-year-old actor died following a cardiac arrest at 4.35 am on Saturday.
Vivek had been admitted to the SIMS Hospital in Vadapalani on Friday after he complained of discomfort. He was unconscious when he was brought to the emergency room.
The actor underwent an emergency coronary angiogram followed by angioplasty on Friday following which he was put on ECMO support in the intensive care unit.
On Thursday, the actor was declared as the state's ambassador for creating awareness on the Covid vaccine. He took the Covaxin in Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai.
Both the hospital and state Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan have dismissed rumours linking Vivek's cardiac arrest and the vaccine shot he received.
Radhakrishnan clarified around 830 people were administered the Covaxin at the same hospital on Thursday and all of them were fine.
The actor was introduced to cinema by veteran director K Balachander. He went on to act in over 220 films. Vivek was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009.
Following Vivek's demise, celebrities took to social media to pay their tributes.
