Shanawas Prem Nazir, son of Malayalam’s evergreen hero Prem Nazir, died at 71 in a Thiruvananthapuram hospital. An actor in over 50 Malayalam films, he debuted with Premageethangal (1981). Shanawas survived by wife Ayisha and sons Shameer Khan and Ajith Khan.

Shanawas, who was born on December 20, 1955, grew up under the towering shadow of his father’s fame, however made his own mark in the film industry during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Shanawas began his acting journey in 1981 with the film Premageethangal. He followed it with several notable performances in films like Ithile Vannavar, Champalakadu, Aattuvanchi Ulanjappol, and Naale Njangalude Vivaham. His roles were often those of the romantic or soft-spoken hero, reminiscent of his father’s early career, but he also took up a few supporting characters later in his career.

Although he did not achieve the same level of stardom as Prem Nazir, Shanawas was appreciated for his sincerity and charming screen presence. He acted in over 40 films, mainly during the 1980s. A trained actor with an academic background, Shanawas was never entirely dependent on cinema for survival, which allowed him to pick roles selectively. In the mid-1990s, he stepped back from mainstream cinema but later made occasional appearances in Malayalam television serials, keeping his connection with the screen alive.

Apart from his own film career, Shanawas was widely known as the custodian of Prem Nazir’s legacy. He has represented his father’s memory at numerous film festivals and commemorative events, ensuring that the contributions of Prem Nazir remain alive in public consciousness. His relationship with his father was warm and respectful, and Shanawas often spoke about how Nazir was not just a screen icon but a devoted family man and humble individual in real life.

Shameer has followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps, entering Malayalam television and cinema, marking the third generation of actors from the Nazir family.

Prem Nazir, who holds the Guinness World Record for playing the lead in over 600 films, was a humble and family-oriented man, who married Habeeba Beevi and had four children.