begun efforts to start small businesses at Ernakulam and became a regular inhabitant of the Cochin Tourist Home. During his life at Ernakulam, he would meet some of his lifelong friends. It was such a chance meeting while on leave, with Rajan Prakash who is the veteran Malayalam actor Jose Prakash's son, who owned a dry cleaning shop in Cochin, that eventually landed him a role in the movie Shapa Moksham. A year later, he left the Indian Navy and started trying his hand at various civilian jobs, working for companies in Cochin for a few years till his acting career began to succeed. Jayan's younger brother Soman Nair (Ajayan) also acted in 20+ films after Jayan's death. But he was not successful in films like Jayan. Ajayan died in the year 2000 at the age of 56. Ajayan has 3 children and his younger son Adithyan Jayan is a famous TV serial actor in Malayalam. Career Random appearances and early career Jayan did make a few random uncredited appearances in some films during the early 1970s. According to his nephew, he had the role of a vampire-like character in an unnamed project costarred by Vidhubala, which was never released. His first appearance with the name Jayan was in the movie Shapamoksham, which is usually credited as his first film. Rise to fame The name "Jayan" ( "The Victor") was given to him by veteran Malayalam actor Jose Prakash on the sets of Shapamoksham. Jayan got his first major break appearing as a villain in Panchami (1976), playing a forest ranger. Jayan's performance in this film was appreciated in the industry and his physical appearance was also noticed for the first time. His next notable role was in Thacholi Ambu (1978), in which he appeared in a supporting role. In the same year, he acted as a sage in the Sreekumaran Thampi film Etho Oru Swapnam, which was well received by critics. He also appeared in the 1978 horror film Lisa, in a supporting role. But what made Jayan a superstar was his antihero role in Sarapancharam (1979, Bed of Arrows). He catapulted to fame riding on machismo roles that endeared him to the masses, and he established himself as one of the most popular Malayalam film actors of his time with superhit movies like Chaakara (1980), Love in Singapore (1980), Paalattu Kunjikkannan (1980), Naayattu (1980), Manushya Mrugam (1980) and