Salim Ghouse, the multilingual film and television actor who has appeared in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and English movies, died on Thursday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 70.
The news of his demise was confirmed to Silverscreen India by Nanjil, director of the upcoming Tamil film, Kaa, starring the late actor. “He suffered a cardiac arrest and died today morning. He died in Mumbai where he was residing with his wife and children,” the filmmaker added.
According to Indian Express, Ghouse’s wife Anita Salim said that the actor experienced chest pain on Wednesday night and was taken to Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai. However, he subsequently passed away the following morning. “He hated grieving and wanted life to go on. He didn’t suffer. He wouldn’t have liked being dependent on anyone. He was a man with a lot of self-respect. He was a multifaceted actor, a martial artist, an actor, a director, and a lovely chef in the kitchen,” she added.
Ghouse was born in Chennai and made his debut on the big screen with the 1978 Hindi film Swarg Narak. He went on to act in a handful of Hindi films, including Chakra (1981), Saaransh (1984), and Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! (1984), before featuring in his first Tamil film, Vettri Vizhaa (1989). He played the antagonist in the film that featured actors Kamal Haasan and Prabhu, among others. Ghouse also branched out into Malayalam cinema and appeared in the 1990 thriller film Thazhvaram, starring Mohanlal.
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Other notable Tamil films in his career include Vettaikaaran (2009), where he essayed an antagonist opposite Vijay, Mani Ratnam’s Thiruda Thiruda (1993), and Red (2002) alongside Ajith Kumar.
The late actor made his television debut with the 1984 Hindi sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi. He also collaborated with Shyam Benegal on Bharat Ek Khoj, a 53-episode historical drama based on the book The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru.
Ghouse has also worked as a dubbing artist.
He will be posthumously seen in Kaa alongside actor-singer Andrea Jeremiah, portraying the role of an assassin. “His portions have been completed. He was a director’s artist and was very prompt in his work,” said Nanjil.