End of an era: Veteran Telugu film icon Kota Srinivasa Rao passes away at 83

In what could be said as a dark day for Telugu cinema, legendary actor Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away earlier today, on July 13, 2025. He had been suffering from age-related issues for the last two years and finally breathed his last at his residence in Hyderabad. He was one of the most prolific actors in Telugu cinema and acted in over 700 films in his illustrious career.

Kota Srinivasa Rao passes away due to age related issues

Kota was mostly known for his negative roles in Telugu cinema, but after a while, director S. V. Krishna Reddy gave him comic roles in his films, and since then, he played a comedian in many films. Kota was the only actor in Telugu cinema who played both villain and comedian roles at the same time. He was so convincing that the audience accepted him in both these roles.

As a character actor and in father roles, Kota delivered many hits. There was a time when Kota acted in almost every Telugu film that was released. His fun combo with fellow comedian Babu Mohan was a massive hit, and they acted together in close to 50 films.

Born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kota belonged to a very educated family. His father was a doctor, and Kota also wanted to become one. But his interest in art and cinema made him change gears and take up acting.

Kota made his debut with the film Pranam Khareedu in 1978, but his iconic role came in Ram Gopal Varma's Money. From there, he became a sensation of sorts, and the Indian government awarded him the prestigious Padma Shri in 2015.

Seeing his popularity, Kota decided to enter politics and served as an MLA from 1999 to 2004. He also faced a personal tragedy when his son passed away in a road accident in Hyderabad.

Kota Srinivasa Rao's funeral to be held on July 13, 2025

The noted actor also appeared in Hindi films and was seen playing the main villain in Amitabh Bachchan's Sarkar. One can say that an actor like Kota will not come again in Telugu cinema, and the industry will deeply miss him. He remains relevant even today, as his iconic dialogues continue to go viral in the form of reels on social media.

The funeral will be held later today, as per the news. OTTplay conveys deep condolences to Kota's family in their time of grief.

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