TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains mention of death.Actor Kamal Roy has passed away due to heart failure. He was 54 years old at the time of his death according to the reports from The Hindu.Reports say that Kamal Roy breathed his last in Chennai. He was not a very active star in recent years but his face and roles were well known to cinema lovers. He mostly appeared in negative and serious roles and especially as a villain.
Born into a big film family
Kamal Roy came from a well-known film family. His sisters are popular actresses Urvashi, Kalpana, and Kalaranjini. His brother Prince who passed away earlier acted in the 1989 film ‘Layanam’. Kamal Roy’s grandfather was Sooranad Kunjan Pillai who is a respected writer, lexicographer, and researcher. He was also a Padmashri awardee. Even with such a strong background, Kamal Roy chose his own path. He entered cinema quietly and made a space for himself without much noise.Kamal is survived by his wife and a son.
Films, serials, and memorable moments
Kamal Roy acted in many Malayalam films over the years. His film list includes ‘Sayoojyam’, ‘Kolilakkam’, ‘Manju’, ‘Kingini’, ‘Kalyana Sougandhikam’, ‘Vachalam’, ‘Shobhanam’, ‘The King Maker’, and ‘Leader’.He also worked in television serials like ‘Sharada’. One special moment many people remember is his appearance in the song sequence “Innum Ente Kannuneeril” from the film Yuvajanotsavam. His roles were not always big, but they were noticed.Director Vinayan shared his memories and wrote, “Actor Kamal Roy has passed away. Heartfelt condolences. He acted as Dileep’s villain in my film Kalyana Sougandhikam. Kamal is the brother of actresses Urvashi, Kalpana, and Kalaranjini. I remember Sukumari chechi once telling me about Kamal.”
Kamal Roy’s honest words about life
In an earlier interview with Grihalakshmi, Kamal Roy spoke openly about his life and regrets. His words were simple and honest. He said, “In our family, if there is someone who went wrong, it is only me. From school days itself, I was rebellious by nature. If I felt that what someone said was wrong, no matter who it was, I would oppose it. Because of that, I faced many losses.” He also spoke about cinema and money, saying, “I never went to anyone in cinema and asked for opportunities. When I think about my old life, I sometimes feel guilty. God gave me beauty. God gave me education. God gave me a lot of money. But I never had the habit of saving it for the future.”He shared a very emotional wish too. “I went to the Gulf for work three times. But till today, I could not even buy a towel for my mother. Before I die, I wish I could complete at least that. That is my desire and my prayer. And if I could continue to earn my living from cinema in the days to come, that would be enough for me.”
