Telugu Actor Kota Srinivasa Rao Passes Away At 83; Chiranjeevi, Vishnu Manchu Pay Tribute

Veteran actor Kota Srinivasa Rao, known for his powerful roles in Telugu cinema, passed away at 83 in Hyderabad after battling health issues.

By : ABP Live Entertainment | Updated at : 13 Jul 2025 09:22 AM (IST)

Kota Srinivasa Rao carved a niche in Indian cinema, particularly Telugu films, where he often portrayed comic and villainous roles with equal finesse.
Source : Twitter/@JalapathyG

Veteran South Indian actor and former BJP MLA Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away early Sunday morning at his residence in Filmnagar, Hyderabad. He was 83. The actor had been battling age-related health complications over the past few days.

Known for his commanding voice and sharp dialogue delivery, Rao carved a niche in Indian cinema, particularly Telugu films, where he often portrayed comic and villainous roles with equal finesse. His recent photograph, shared on social media by producer Bandla Ganesh, had sparked concern among fans about his declining health.

Kota is survived by his wife and two daughters. He tragically lost his only son, Kota Venkata Anjaneya Prasad, in a road accident in 2010.

Kota Srinivasa Rao’s Cinematic Journey

Born on July 10, 1942, in Kanakipadu, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, Kota began his career as a stage actor before entering films in 1978 with Pranam Khareedu, which starred Chiranjeevi. Over the next four decades, he appeared in more than 750 films across Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema.

His breakthrough as a formidable villain came in the 1985 film Pratighatana. Known for effortlessly delivering lines in multiple Telugu dialects, Rao quickly became a sought-after name in the industry.

Kota Srinivasa Rao shared screen space with many top stars, including Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, and Pawan Kalyan. His notable films include Aha! Naa Pellanta, Yamudiki Mogudu, Bobbili Raja, Athadu, Race Gurram, Bommarillu, and Shiva.

His on-screen pairing with comedian Babu Mohan in nearly 60 films became a commercial success formula during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Outside cinema, Rao was also active in politics. He served as a BJP MLA from Vijayawada East constituency between 1999 and 2004.

Kota Srinivasa Rao’s Recognitions and Tributes

For his contributions to Indian cinema, Kota was honoured with several accolades, including the Padma Shri in 2015 and multiple Nandi Awards. His passing has been widely mourned across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with tributes pouring in from political leaders, industry veterans, and fans.

Chiranjeevi, who made his film debut alongside Rao in Pranam Khareedu (1978), remembered him fondly. Sharing a note in Telugu on X, he wrote: “The news of the passing of legendary actor and multi-talented personality Sri Kota Srinivasa Rao garu has deeply saddened me... His absence is an irreplaceable loss to the film industry and to all cinema lovers.”

Actor-producer Vishnu Manchu also took to X to express his grief. He posted a photo of Rao and wrote: “A Legend Beyond Words... Whether it was a serious role, a villain, or comedy — he brought life into every character with a rare mastery.”

Manchu added that he was lucky to have worked with Rao in several films and called him an inspiration who shaped his love for cinema.

Published at : 13 Jul 2025 09:15 AM (IST)
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