PM Modi condoles demise of Tamil actor Vivek

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the demise of Tamil actor Vivek who suffered a massive cardiac arrest on April 16.

In a condolence message on Twitter, Vivek wrote: "The untimely demise of noted actor Vivek has left many saddened. His comic timing and intelligent dialogues entertained people. Both in his films and his life, his concern for the environment and society shone through. Condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Om Shanti."

The actor passed away on Saturday at SIMS hospital in Chennai. He was 59. The Padma Shri awardee actor was admitted to the intensive care unit of SIMS hospital in Vadapal after he H

He reportedly fainted after expressing discomfort and his family rushed him to the SIMS Hospital at Vadapal while he was in an unconscious state. He later underwent an emergency coronary angiogram followed by angioplasty.

The actor's condition was reported to be critical and he was on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the intensive care unit of the hospital. The ace actor had earlier made headlines on Thursday for his efforts to remove the fear of the COVID vaccine among the public. Instead of opting for a private hospital, he had chosen to get vaccinated from a government hospital to spread awareness.

He was bestowed with the Padma Shri Award, India's fourth-highest civilian award in the year 2009 by the union government.

An environmentalist, in order to laud the green movement, Vivek started a movement to plant a billion trees across Tamil Nadu, he was advised to do so from the former late president APJ Abdul Kalam.

( With inputs from ANI )