Hyderabad: Kota Srinivasa Rao, a towering presence in Telugu cinema and a former MLA, passed away at his residence in Film Nagar in the early hours of Sunday. He was 83.
The veteran actor had been ailing for some time. According to family members, he died around 4 a.m. News of his death has left the Telugu film industry in mourning, with tributes flooding in from colleagues, fans, and political leaders alike.
Born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu in Krishna district, Srinivasa Rao didn’t enter films until 1978, when he debuted with Pranam Khareedu. What followed was nothing short of staggering – a filmography that stretched across more than 750 films and five languages. Rao brought something rare to every role: sharp timing, emotional heft, and a kind of grounded charisma that made even the smallest parts stand out.
His real breakout came with Aha Naa Pellanta, the comedy that made him a staple in Telugu households. From scheming antagonists to lovable eccentrics, weary fathers to comic foils – Srinivasa Rao slipped into every role with such ease, you sometimes forgot you were watching the same man.
Before the cameras ever rolled, he held a steady job at the State Bank. But public life called to him in more ways than one. In 1999, he was elected as the BJP MLA from Vijayawada East, bringing the same clarity and conviction to politics that had made him a force on screen.
He is survived by two daughters. His son passed away in a road accident several years ago – a tragedy Kota Srinivasa Rao rarely spoke about in public.
Across his long career, Srinivasa Rao earned nine Nandi Awards, each a nod to his lasting contribution to Indian cinema.