The South Indian film industry has suffered another heartbreaking loss with the passing of popular actor and comedian Karthik Sabesh on October 20, 2026, at the young age of 37. He succumbed to kidney-related complications after battling the illness for the past two months in the hospital, where he was undergoing dialysis treatment. His condition had deteriorated severely over the last two weeks, leading to his admission into the ICU.
This tragic news comes just three days after the death of his uncle, the veteran South Indian music composer Deva, who passed away on October 17 at 75 due to a heart attack. The back-to-back demise of two prominent figures from the same family within a span of 72 hours has left the film fraternity and their family in deep shock.
Karthik Sabesh began his career in cinema at the age of 15 with the 2004 Tamil film Dreams. Over his 22-year journey in the industry, he worked as a supporting artist and comedian in around 15 films. Despite a selective filmography, his comedic timing left a lasting impression on viewers, earning him popularity even among audiences who watched Hindi-dubbed South Indian movies. Some of his notable screen appearances include hits like Vallavan, Pattathu Yaanai, Kulir 100°, Kadhal Solla Vandhen, Udhayam NH4, and Burma.