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Ambika Rao Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth6 July 1963

Age58 (at time of death)

BirthplaceKerala

ProfessionActress, Assistant director

NationalityIndian

Marital statusDivorced

FamilyTwo sons: Rahul and Sohan; father: Rao Chettan; brother: Ajith Warrier

Ambika Rao Biography

Ambika Rao was an Indian actress and assistant director who worked primarily in Malayalam cinema. She appeared in supporting roles across films such as Kum

Early life and background

Ambika Rao was born on 6 July 1963 in Kerala. She grew up in a family that enjoyed films; as a child she frequently went to the cinema with her father and siblings. Her father is named Rao Chettan and is identified as a Marathi artist. She had several siblings, including a brother, Ajith Warrier, who is a tabla player.

Career

Rao’s career in film spanned both on-screen performance and work behind the camera. She began assisting on film productions, credited as an assistant director on Krishna Gopalakrishna (2002). Her first recorded acting appearance in Malayalam cinema came in the 2006 film Kisan, in which she played the character Ammalu. Over the following years she supported other productions in various capacities: assisting on Nagaram (2007) and Daddy Cool (2009), and helping the costume team on Flying Lessons (2010).

She continued to act in supporting parts in several Malayalam films. Notable credits include Lord Livingstone 7000 Kandi (2015), Virus (2019), Safe (2019) and a widely recognized turn as Baby’s mother in Kumbalangi Nights (2019). Her final film credit was Paapam Cheyyathavar Kalleriyatte (2020), where she appeared as Philomina.

Rao also explored short filmmaking. In 2016 she directed a short film titled Smarana, which she shot in her own flat due to budget constraints. On set she earned the nickname “The Coach” and was known to help actors with language preparation; she taught Malayalam to performers and reportedly assisted singer Usha Uthup with Malayalam for song performances.

Personal life

Ambika Rao lived in Kerala and reportedly resided near the Thiruvambadi Temple in Thrissur. She married and later divorced; at the time of her death she was described as divorced. She was a mother of two sons, Rahul and Sohan. Earlier in life she worked outside the film industry, including roles as a data entry operator and as a hotel waiter. She took a break from acting and later returned to work in films.

Health and final years

Rao experienced serious health problems beginning in 2017, when she developed kidney failure and later required regular dialysis. After her work on Kumbalangi Nights in 2019 she was diagnosed as needing dialysis. Family health events and the impacts of the pandemic affected her ability to work; her brother suffered a cardiac arrest in 2020, which delayed some aspects of her treatment. In 2020 she appealed for financial support to help cover medical expenses and started a fundraiser.

Ambika Rao died on 27 June 2022 in Ernakulam, Kerala, at the age of 58. The reported cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Public profile

Rao was known within the Malayalam film community for her versatility—working as an actress, assistant director and mentor to performers. Her on-screen presence in Kumbalangi Nights brought her recognition beyond character parts, and she remained active in the industry through the late 2010s. She enjoyed painting and spending time with friends when not working.

Latest updates

Ambika Rao’s last credited film appearance is listed as Paapam Cheyyathavar Kalleriyatte (2020). Her passing in June 2022 was reported in the press, with cause of death noted as cardiac arrest.
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Recent Work

Paapam Cheyyathavar Kalleriyatte

Played the role of Philomina

2020
Kumbalangi Nights

Played Baby's mother

2019
Virus

Appeared in the film

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Assistant director on Krishna Gopalakrishna (2002)
  2. Acted as Ammalu in Kisan (2006)
  3. Portrayed Baby's mother in Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
  4. Directed the short film Smarana (2016)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ambika Rao born?

6 July 1963

What is Ambika Rao known for?

Actress, Assistant director

What is Ambika Rao’s marital status?

Divorced