Remembering Kota Srinivasa Rao: A Legendary Actor's Journey Comes to an End
A Farewell to a Cinematic Icon
Hyderabad: The film industry mourns the loss of veteran actor Kota Srinivasa Rao, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 83 after a prolonged illness. He breathed his last at his home in Filmnagar.
Srinivasa Rao is survived by his wife and two daughters. He had been facing health challenges related to aging in recent days, and a recent photo shared by producer Bandla Ganesh on social media left fans in shock.
With a career that spanned over four decades, he appeared in more than 750 films across Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema.
Renowned for his distinctive voice and delivery, he often portrayed a range of characters, primarily as a villain and comedian.
Born on July 10, 1942, in Kanakipadu, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, he began his journey as a stage artist before making his film debut in 1978 with 'Pranam Khareedu', featuring Chiranjeevi.
Initially, he took on various comic roles but later solidified his reputation as a formidable villain with his performance in 'Pratighatana' (1985).
Srinivasa Rao is credited with redefining the portrayal of antagonists in cinema, effortlessly speaking Telugu in various dialects.
He shared the screen with many leading Tollywood stars, including Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, and Pawan Kalyan.
His notable films include 'Aha! Naa Pellanta', 'Yamudiki Mogudu', 'Khaidi No. 786', 'Shiva', 'Bobbili Raja', 'Yamaleela', 'Bommarillu', 'Santosham', 'Athadu', and 'Race Gurram'.
Srinivasa Rao frequently collaborated with comedian Babu Mohan, and their pairing was once considered a surefire hit for any film.
He received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious Padma Shri and Nandi Awards. In 2015, he was honored with the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to Indian cinema.
Additionally, he served as a BJP MLA for the Vijayawada East Assembly constituency from 1999 to 2004.
Tragically, he lost his only son, Kota Venkata Anjaneya Prasad, in a road accident in Hyderabad in 2010.
The news of Srinivasa Rao's passing has prompted condolences from prominent figures in both the film industry and political circles across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.