Tributes Flow as Veteran Telugu Actor Kota Srinivasa Rao Passes Away

Kota Srinivasa Rao's Demise

Renowned Telugu actor and former MLA Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away early Sunday morning at his home in Filmnagar, Hyderabad. He was 83 years old and had been facing health challenges related to aging, as confirmed by his family.

Condolences from Leaders and Colleagues

The news of his passing elicited heartfelt condolences from various political figures and members of the entertainment industry. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan were among those who expressed their sorrow. Notable figures from the film industry, including Jr NTR, producer D Suresh Babu, and veteran actor Murali Mohan, also shared their tributes.

Emotional Farewell

During the funeral, actor Chiranjeevi paid a touching tribute by laying a wreath of red roses on Rao's body and offering prayers in front of his portrait.

Public Figures Pay Their Respects

Prominent visitors at Rao's residence included former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao, and Andhra BJP president PVN Madhav.

Legacy of Kota Srinivasa Rao

Kota Srinivasa Rao made a significant impact in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam films. He debuted in Telugu cinema with the 1978 film Pranam Khareedu and appeared in over 750 films, including 30 in Tamil, 10 in Hindi, 8 in Kannada, and one in Malayalam. His last film was Suvarna Sundari, released in 2023.

He received nine Nandi Awards and was honored with the Padma Shri in 2015 by then-President Pranab Mukherjee. In addition to acting, he also contributed his voice to several songs in Telugu films.

Rao served as a BJP MLA for Vijayawada East from 1999 to 2004.