Kota Srinivasa Rao dies, film personalities pay last respects to veteran Telugu actor

Veteran Telugu actor Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away early Sunday due to age-related illness, leaving a profound legacy in south Indian cinema with over 700 films.

Kota Srinivasa Rao

Veteran Telugu actor Kota Srinivasa Rao took his last breath and passed away during the early hours of Sunday morning. Having suffered from age-related sickness for couple of years now, the actor had carved a niche for himself in south cinema, especially in Telugu and Tamil. With credits over 700 films, Kota Srinivasa Rao will be a legendary and prominent figure in Indian cinema, as film personalities poured in their tributes and last respects.

Film industry mourns the death of Kota Srinivasa Rao

Born on July 10, 1942, Kota Srinivasa Rao had worked across languages and served as MLA for the Vijayawada East constituency in Andhra Pradesh. A recipient of many awards, Kota Srinivasa Rao died of a long-time illness on Sunday. The film industry, across languages, mourned the loss of the veteran, known for his antagonist as well as comical roles.

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From the Tamil industry, actors like Vishal, Karthi, R Sarathkumar and others were among the first to condole Kota Srinivasa Rao’s death on social media. Sarathkumar recalled the “unforgettable experience of working” with him in the 2004 Tamil film Aei. “Beyond his immense contribution to cinema, his commitment to public service was admirable,” he said. Actor Karthi also cherished his memories with Kota Srinivasa Rao and said, “His love for the craft, his energy on set, and the unforgettable characters he brought to life will always stay with us.”

Apart from them, Telugu actors Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh Daggubati had visited the site where his mortal remains were kept to pay their respects. A popular face in both Tamil and Telugu cinema, Samantha Ruth Prabhu called Kota Srinivasa Rao “irreplaceable”.

Kota Srinivasa Rao's funeral to be held on Sunday

The funeral of Kota Srinivasa Rao will be held in the evening of July 13. In what may be a dark day for South cinema, many actors mourned the loss. His last film appearance was in the 2023 Kannada film Kabzaa. He will be posthumously seen in Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu.

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