Veteran Telugu actor Kota Srinivasa Rao passes away

Veteran Telugu actor Kota Srinivasa Rao, known for his character roles in South Indian movies, died in Hyderabad on Sunday. He was 83 years old. 

 

The veteran actor was undergoing treatment for a prolonged illness. The versatile actor has acted in over 750 films in various languages. He made his film debut with 'Pranam Khareedu' in 1978. 

 

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy condoled his demise and said Rao's absence is an irreplaceable loss. "Though Kota garu is no longer with us physically, through the diverse roles he portrayed, he will remain forever in the hearts of Telugu people," Reddy said in a post on X.

 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the death of the veteran actor was 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," Naidu tweeted. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister noted that Rao was elected from Vijayawada in 1999 assembly elections and served the public. 

 

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi reminisced about his experience of acting with the versatile actor and recalled they both started their career at the same time. "Be it a comedic villain, a serious villain, or a supporting character, every role he played was performed with such brilliance that it felt only he could do it justice. Recently, the personal tragedy in his family deeply affected him mentally," he tweeted. 

 

"The void left by an actor like Sri Kota Srinivasa Rao is one that the film industry and cinephiles will never overcome. Praying for peace to his soul, I express my profound condolences to his family members, well-wishers, and fans," Chiranjeevi added.

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