Kota Srinivasa Rao was a versatile and great actor, who brought to life characters ranging from villains to comedic and emotional roles in over 750 films. His journey from a bank employee to the world of cinema was inspiring.
Kota Srinivasa Rao: The Indian film industry has lost a shining star today. Kota Srinivasa Rao, a veteran actor of the South Indian film industry, who played diverse roles, from villains to various characters in over 750 films, passed away at the age of 83 after a long illness. He breathed his last on Monday morning, two days after his birthday, at his Film Nagar residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. His death has plunged not only South Indian cinema but also the entire Bollywood into mourning. Fans and stars of the film industry are paying tribute to him on social media.
From a Bank Job to the World of Cinema
Very few people know that before stepping into the world of acting, Kota Srinivasa Rao was a bank employee. After completing his early education, he worked at the State Bank of India. But somewhere deep down, the bug of acting kept buzzing. During his college days, he joined theatre and started acting on stage, and from there his dreams got direction. He always dreamed of becoming a doctor, like his father. But fate drew him towards acting. He completed his degree in science and after that, he started working in theatre with full dedication. Then in 1978, he got his first break in the film 'Pranam Khareedu'.
An Artist Who Brought Life to Every Character
Kota Srinivasa Rao is known for his powerful dialogue delivery and villainous roles. But he was not limited to negative roles only. He also played comedic, emotional, and social characters with the same honesty and seriousness. Whether it was Chiranjeevi or Allu Arjun, he has worked with superstars of every generation. One special thing about his acting was that he completely lived the character. The audience used to get scared seeing him and also appreciated his acting. This is why he is called the 'Amrish Puri' or 'Pran' of the South.
An Indelible Mark in Over 750 Films
Kota Srinivasa Rao worked in Telugu cinema as well as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. In total, he acted in over 750 films, which is a very respectable figure. His notable films include 'Gaayam', 'Gaayam 2', 'Manmadhudu', 'Lakshmi Narasimha', 'Aakhri War', among others. His acting was so powerful that sometimes the audience was scared of him, and sometimes they would roll with laughter at his words.
Played an Important Role in Politics Too
Not limited to films alone, Kota Srinivasa Rao also stepped into politics. In the 1990s, he joined the BJP and in 1999, he also became an MLA from the Vijayawada East constituency of Andhra Pradesh. But he never let his acting career take a backseat because of politics.
A Long List of Awards and Honors
Kota Srinivasa Rao received many big honors for his brilliant acting. In 2015, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri award, which is the fourth highest civilian honor in the country. Apart from this, he also received the prestigious Nandi Awards of Telugu cinema nine times, which proves his talent and contribution to cinema.
Acting's Mark Remained in the Family Too
The mark of acting has also been deep in Kota Srinivasa Rao's family. His younger brother, Kota Shankar Rao, has also acted in films, and his son, Kota Venkat Anjaneya Prasad, also acted in films like 'Gaayam 2' with his father. However, the son passed away a few years ago.
Gave a Response to the Rumors of His Death Himself
Some time ago, the false news of Kota Srinivasa Rao's death spread rapidly on social media, which caused him a lot of trouble. He himself released a video and refuted this rumor and said that such rumors could also take the life of an elderly person. He said that because of this, 10 police personnel were deployed at his house and he was receiving constant phone calls. He also said that if anyone wants popularity, they should earn it through hard work; spreading such lies is absolutely wrong.
Kota Srinivasa Rao – The End of an Era
Kota Srinivasa Rao started his film career in 1978 with the Telugu film 'Pranam Khareedu', after which he never looked back. He gradually became the most trusted and popular villain in the South. He gave brilliant performances not only in Telugu but also in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. His powerful voice, emotional expression, and depth of acting made him a favorite of audiences of every language.
