Tollywood actor and former lawmaker Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away peacefully at his Filmnagar residence in Hyderabad early Sunday, after battling health and age-related issues, according to his family. Rao is survived by his wife Rukmini and two daughters. His son, Kota Prasad Rao, tragically died in a road accident in Hyderabad in 2010.Renowned for his versatility, Rao left an indelible mark on Telugu cinema with memorable performances as a villain, lead actor, and occasionally as a comedian. Over his prolific career, he acted in around 750 films spanning multiple languages, including 30 Tamil, 10 Hindi, eight Kannada, and one Malayalam film. His last Telugu film was Suvarna Sundari, released in 2023.
Born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, Rao hailed from a culturally rich family. Encouraged by his father, Kota Seetharama Anasuyamma, he developed an early passion for acting and began performing in stage dramas during his student years. Before entering films, he worked at the State Bank of India while participating in theatre.Rao made his Telugu film debut with Pranam Khareedu in 1978 and soon became one of the most sought-after supporting actors. Besides acting, he also lent his voice to songs in a few Telugu films.His talent earned him nine Nandi Awards from the Andhra Pradesh government, and he was honored with the Padma Shri in 2015, presented by then-President Pranab Mukherjee.
Tributes Pour InPrime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), praising Rao’s cinematic brilliance, versatility, and social service efforts. Modi said Rao “enthralled audiences across generations” and worked to empower the poor and marginalized.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, Governor Abdul Nazeer, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, and numerous Tollywood stars also mourned Rao’s demise.Naidu described Rao as a “Padma Shri awardee who mesmerized generations with his acting brilliance” and extended sympathies to his family.
Governor Abdul Nazeer highlighted Rao’s lasting impact on Telugu audiences worldwide and called his passing an “irreparable loss” to the film and theatre communities. YSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy remembered Rao’s artistic legacy and his profound influence on Telugu cinema, offering heartfelt condolences and prayers for his soul’s peace.
