Alphadelta at 13:34, 8 March 2026

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{{Short description|Indian actress}}
{{Indian patronymic|Ambika|Rao}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ambika Rao
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| othername =
| birth_name = Ambika Rao
| birth_date =
| birth_place = India
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Actress, assistant director
| yearsactive = 2002–2021
| notable_works =
| relatives =
| awards =
}}

'''Ambika Rao''' (1964 – 27 June 2022) was an Indian actress and assistant director, who worked in the [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam film industry]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-28 |title=Malayalam actor Ambika Rao dies of cardiac arrest, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas pay tribute |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/malayalam-actor-ambika-rao-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-industry-pays-tribute-101656403608658.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> She has worked as assistant director in numerous Malayalam films.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-28 |title=Malayalam actor Ambika Rao passes away due to Covid complications at 58, Mohanlal and Mammootty mourn |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/malayalam-actor-ambika-rao-passes-away-covid-19-complications-mohanlal-mammootty-mourn-7995546/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Ambika also acted in supporting roles in several movies and is popular for her role in [[Kumbalangi Nights]] as Babymol's mother.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-28 |title=Malayalam actor Ambika Rao dies |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/malayalam-actor-ambika-rao-dies/article65575353.ece |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Career==
Ambika entered into the Malayalam film industry in early 2000's as assistant director. She has assisted several directors including [[Shafi (director)|Shafi]], [[Balachandra Menon]], [[Anwar Rasheed]] and [[Vinayan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kumbalangi nights actor Ambika Rao dies of a heart attack |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/06/28/actress-ambika-rao-kumbalangi-nights.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=www.onmanorama.com}}</ref>

Ambika has acted in supporting roles in numerous films including [[Meesa Madhavan|Meesha Madhavan]], [[Anuraga Karikkin Vellam|Anuraga Karikkinvellam]], [[Kumbalangi Nights]] and [[Virus (2019 film)|Virus]]. She was noted for her role in Kumbalangi Nights as a widowed mother of two daughters.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Malayalam actor Ambika Rao passes away |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/malayalam-actor-ambika-rao-passes-away/articleshow/92508821.cms |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Death==
Ambika died on 27 June 2022 after suffering cardiac arrest.<ref name="death">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-28 |title=Actor Ambika Rao passes away in Kerala due to cardiac arrest |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-ambika-rao-passes-away-kerala-due-cardiac-arrest-165354 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
===As actor===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2002 || ''[[Meesa Madhavan]]'' ||Omana ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| ''[[Yathrakarude Sradhakku]]'' || Flat secretary||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| rowspan=7 | 2003 || ''[[Gramophone (film)|Gramophone]]'' ||Cheriyamma ||<ref name="films">{{Cite web |title=Actor, asst director Ambika Rao passes away |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2022/jun/29/actor-asst-director-ambika-rao-passes-away-2470832.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The New Indian Express|date=29 June 2022 }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Pattalam (2003 film)|Pattalam]]'' ||Muslim lady ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| ''[[Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum]]'' ||Class teacher ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| ''[[Chronic Bachelor]]'' ||Sreekumar's sister ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| ''[[Anyar (film)|Anyar]]'' ||Raziya's mother ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| ''[[Gowrisankaram]]'' ||Sankar's relative ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| ''[[Swapnakkoodu]]'' || Tamil lady||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Vettam]]'' || ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Rasikan]]'' || Professor||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Njan Salperu Ramankutty]]'' || ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Achuvinte Amma]]'' || Vanaja's neighbour||<ref name="films"/>
|-
|-
| 2005|| ''[[Krithyam]]'' || ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2005|| ''Kochirajavu'' || ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2006|| ''Rajamanikyam'' || ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Classmates (2006 film)|Classmates]]'' ||Hostel warden sister ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2006|| ''Kissaan'' || ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2006|| ''Bhargavacharitham Moonnam Khandam'' || ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2008|| ''[[Parunthu]]'' || Nurse||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2009|| ''[[Seetha Kalyanam (2009 film)|Seetha Kalyanam]]'' ||Seetha's relative ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2010 || ''[[In Ghost House Inn]]'' ||Servant||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Salt N' Pepper]]'' || Kalidas's colleague||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Tournament]]'' ||Nurse ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Theevram]]'' ||||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| 2013|| ''Buddy'' || ||<ref name="films"/>
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Chandrettan Evideya]]'' ||Chandramohan's Colleague||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Lord Livingstone 7000 Kandi]]'' ||Guguthai||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Anuraga Karikkin Vellam]]'' || Interview Board Member||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| rowspan=5| 2019 || ''[[Thamaasha]]'' || Doctor||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| ''[[Virus (2019 film)|Virus]]'' || Head nurse ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| ''Safe'' || Sharadhamma||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| ''[[Kumbalangi Nights]]'' ||Baby and Simmy's Mother ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| ''Little Riddles Oru Nurungu Samshayam'' || || Malayalam short film
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Paapam Cheyyathavar Kalleriyatte]]'' || Philomina ||<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ambika Rao no more: Mohanlal, Mammootty, and other M-Town celebs pay tribute to the 'Kumbalangi Nights' actor |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/ambika-rao-no-more-mohanlal-mammootty-and-other-m-town-celebs-pay-tribute-to-the-kumbalangi-nights-actor/articleshow/92510408.cms |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
|-
| 2020 || ''Ghar Se'' || || Hindi short film
|-
| 2021 || ''[[Vellam (2021 film)|Vellam]]'' || ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
|}

===As assistant director===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Director !! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Krishna Gopalakrishna]]'' || [[Balachandra Menon]] ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Vellinakshatram (2004 film)|Vellinakshatram]]'' || [[Vinayan]] ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2005 || ''[[Rajamanikyam]]'' || [[Anwar Rasheed]] ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| ''[[Thommanum Makkalum]]'' || [[Shafi (director)|Shafi]] ||<ref name="death"/>
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2007 || ''[[Hallo (film)|Hallo]]'' || [[Rafi–Mecartin]] ||<ref name="AD">{{Cite web |title=Malayalam actor and assistant director Ambika Rao passes away |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2022/jun/28/malayalam-actor-and-assistant-director-ambika-rao-passes-away-32379.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |date=28 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Big B (film)|Big B]]'' || [[Amal Neerad]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| ''[[Romeo (2007 film)|Romeo]]'' || [[Rajasenan]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2008 || ''[[Positive (2008 film)|Positive]]'' || [[V. K. Prakash]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| ''[[Parunthu]]'' || [[M. Padmakumar]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| ''[[Mayabazar (2008 film)|Mayabazar]]'' || Thomas Sebastian ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| ''[[College Kumaran]]'' || [[Thulasidas]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2009 || ''[[2 Harihar Nagar]]'' || [[Lal (actor)|Lal]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| ''[[Love in Singapore (2009 film)|Love in Singapore]]'' || [[Rafi–Mecartin]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| ''[[Daddy Cool (2009 Malayalam film)|Daddy Cool]]'' || [[Aashiq Abu]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2010 || ''[[Tournament (film)|Tournament]]'' || [[Lal (actor)|Lal]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
| ''[[Best Actor (film)|Best Actor]]'' || [[Martin Prakkat]] ||<ref name="AD"/>
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Ambika}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]

Ambika Rao - Revision history

Alphadelta at 13:34, 8 March 2026