Veteran Telugu actor Chalapathi Rao no more, dies of cardiac arrest

Telugu cinema is bereaved of yet another veteran in a span of less than two months. Veteran actor Chalapathi Rao, popular for his supporting roles and negative characters for over five decades, breathed his last at 78. The actor died of cardiac arrest at his son’s residence at MLA Colony, Banjara Hills on Saturday in the night. He is also survived by a daughter, who resides in the US.

“The body will be at our residence till today noon and shifted to Maha Prasthanam later for everyone to pay their respects,” Ravi Babu disclosed to the media earlier today. Given Chalapathi Rao’s daughter stays in the US and would take time to reach India, the final rites will be performed only after her arrival on Wednesday, the note added.

Born in Baliparru village of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, Ravi Babu’s career began with Krishna’s Goodachari 116. He was part of nearly 1500 Telugu films and also produced a handful of projects including Kaliyuga Krishnudu, Kadapareddamma, Jagannatakam, Ardharatri Hatyalu and Raktham Chindina Raatri. He also made his web debut with ZEE5’s political drama Chadarangam.

Chalapathi Rao in his early years in the industry was most popular for his antagonist roles and was a key figure in the villain’s camp in most films released in the 70s and 80s. He is known for his association with the family of legendary actor NTR, with whom he had acted in films like Annadammula Anubandham, Tatamma Kala, Yamagola, Chanakya Chandragupta, Bobbili Puli.

In the later part of his career, he moulded himself as a capable character artiste, sharing screenspace with several generations of actors and was a regular in most mainstream films made through the 90s and 2000s including Sri Ramulayya, Nuvve Kavali, Snehamante Idera, Simharasi, Aadi, Arundhati. His last release was Nagarjuna’s family entertainer Bangarraju in 2022.