Shanawas, Malayalam actor and son of Prem Nazir, dies at 71

According to family members, he had been dealing with serious health problems for some time and was admitted to the hospital after his condition worsened.

Shanawas, Malayalam actor and son of Prem Nazir, dies at 71

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Popular Malayalam actor Shanawas, known for his work in both films and television, passed away late Monday night at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 71 years old.

According to family members, he had been dealing with serious health problems for some time and was admitted to the hospital after his condition worsened.

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Shanawas was the son of legendary Malayalam actor Prem Nazir, often called the ‘evergreen hero’ of Malayalam cinema. Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Shanawas grew up in a family deeply connected to the world of films. His mother was Habeeba Beevi, and he had three sisters.

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Shanawas studied at Chirayinkeezhu English Medium School and later at Montfort School in Yercaud. He went on to complete a master’s degree in English literature from The New College in Chennai.

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He made his film debut in 1981 with the movie ‘Premageethangal’. Though he had a promising start, Shanawas took a step back from the spotlight for some time. He returned to the big screen in 2011 with the film ‘China Town’, reminding audiences of his strong screen presence.

Shanawas lived in Malaysia for many years. His wife, Ayisha Beevi, is the daughter of Prem Nazir’s eldest sister, the late Suleikha Beevi. The couple had two sons: Shameer Khan and Ajith Khan.

Shameer tried to follow in his father’s footsteps by acting in the film ‘Uppukandam Brothers Back in Action’, but he didn’t find success in the film industry. He now works as a manager in Malaysia and is also a vlogger. His brother, Ajith Khan, lives and works in Australia.

Shanawas’s last appearance on screen was in the 2022 Malayalam film ‘Jana Gana Mana’.

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