Television actor Dileep Shankar found dead

Film and television actor Dileep Shankar was found dead at a hotel near Vanross Junction in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. According to the Cantonment Police, the actor, who was staying at the hotel as part of his work in a television serial, was not seen outside his room for the past two days, following which the hotel staff informed the serial’s production controller and the police.

“The death is estimated to have happened at least two days ago. The AC in the hotel room was functioning. So the body had not decomposed as much as it would have in normal conditions. He is known to have had some health issues, but the reason for the death can be ascertained only after the post-mortem,” said Prajeesh Sasi, SHO, Cantonment Police Station.

A resident of Ernakulam, Dileep was in the capital for the past few days as part of work in the television serial. After beginning his career as a mimicry artist, he was part of several popular television serials like Panchagni and Ammayariyathe. Dileep had also acted in a couple of films. Well-known personalities from the television fraternity expressed shock at the actor’s demise.