Veteran Telugu Actor Kota Srinivasa Rao Dies In Hyderabad, Two Days After His 83rd Birthday

Veteran Telugu actor and former BJP MLA Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away at his Hyderabad residence on Sunday, two days after his 83rd birthday. He breathed his last at his home located in Filmnagar in Jubilee Hills.

Rao reportedly had not been keeping well for the past few days and he died in the wee hours of Sunday due to age-related illnesses.

His death came as a shock to fans of the Telugu film industry.

Netizens mourn Rao's death

Soon after the news of his demise got out in public, several celebs as well as politicians mourned Rao's passing away, and said that his death was a colossal loss to Telugu cinema.

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli wrote on X, "Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Kota Srinivasa Rao garu. A master of his craft, a legend who breathed life into every character he portrayed. His presence on screen was truly irreplaceable. My heartfelt condolences to his family. Om Shanti (sic)."

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu tweeted, "The demise of the renowned actor Kota Srinivasa Rao, who won the affection of cinema audiences with his versatile roles, is deeply saddening. His artistic contributions to the fields of cinema and theatre over nearly four decades, and the roles he portrayed, will remain unforgettable. The numerous memorable roles he played as a villain and character artist will forever stay etched in the hearts of Telugu audiences. His passing is an irreparable loss to the Telugu film industry. In 1999, he won as an MLA from Vijayawada and served the public. I express my profound condolences to his family members (sic)."

Ravi Teja wrote, "Grew up watching him, admiring him, and learning from every performance. Kota Babai was like family to me, I cherish the lovely memories of working with him. Rest in peace, Kota Srinivasa Rao garu Om Shanti (sic)."

About Kota Srinivasa Rao

Kota Srinivasa Rao was primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema and theatre. Born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu, Andhra Pradesh, he initially pursued a career as a doctor, but was soon drawn to the stage due to his passion.

He made his debut in 1978 in the Telugu film, Pranam Khareedu, and there was no looking back then. He appeared in over 750 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi cinema.

From 1994 to 2004, he served as a BJP MLA from the Vijayawada East Assembly constituency. In 2015, he was honoured with he Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.

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