Veteran actor Kota Srinivasa Rao passes away at 83

Veteran actor Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away aged 83 on Sunday at his residence after in Filmnagar, Hyderabad. battling illness for the past few days.

Rao was born in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, and began his journey in cinema with the 1978 film Pranam Khareedhu. In his career spanning over four decades, he featured in over 750 films in Telugu cinema.



Rao played negative roles and redefined them with distinctive performances. He was also an acclaimed theatre artist, known for his commanding voice and expressive acting. He is remembered for his role in one of Ram Charan’s hit films Naayak, released in 2013.

Kota Srinivasa Rao's political roles

Throughout his career, he portrayed a variety of characters, from villains and comic roles to emotionally layered supporting characters.

He shared screen space with legendary stars and younger actors alike, including Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan, Allu Arjun, and Sai Dharam Tej.

Srinivasa Rao also served as an MLA from the Vijayawada East constituency between 1999 and 2004. His on-screen politician roles were also well received in Tollywood. 'Julayi', starring Allu Arjun, is one such film in which Rao played the role of an MLA.


The renknowned actor was last seen in Kabzaa (2023), directed by R. Chandru. The film features an ensemble cast including Upendra Rao, Shiva Rajkumar, Kiccha Sudeepa, Shriya Saran, Sudha, Murali Sharma, Dev Gill, Kabir Duhan Singh, Danish Akhtar Saifi, and Posani Krishna Murali.

His demise marks the end of an era, and he leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of actors and filmmakers.

Chandrababu Naidu pays tribute to Kota Srinivasa Rao

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu paid tribute to the actor, saying, "The demise of the renowned actor Kota Srinivasa Rao, who won the affection of cinema audiences with his versatile roles, is 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. In 1999, he won as an MLA from Vijayawada and served the public. I express my profound condolences to his family members."