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**Veteran Telugu Actor Kota Srinivasa Rao Passes Away at 83**
**Hyderabad:** Renowned Telugu actor Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away early Sunday morning at his residence in Film Nagar, Hyderabad. He was 83. The actor had been suffering from age-related ailments for some time.
Born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, Kota Srinivasa Rao leaves behind a rich legacy in Telugu cinema, spanning over four decades. He is survived by his wife Rukmini, and two daughters. His son, Kota Prasad, tragically passed away in a road accident in 2010.
Prior to his acting career, Kota Srinivasa Rao worked at the State Bank. He made his film debut in 1978 with “Pranam Khareedu,” and went on to act in over 750 films, showcasing his versatility in villainous and character roles. He also acted in Tamil, Hindi, and Kannada language films.
Kota Srinivasa Rao was highly decorated for his contributions to cinema, receiving nine Nandi Awards from the Andhra Pradesh government for films including “Pratighatana,” “Gaayam,” “Theerpu,” “Little Soldiers,” “Ganesh,” “Chinna,” “Pellaina Kothalo,” “Aa Naluguru,” and “Pruthvi Narayana.” In 2012, he received a SIIMA Award for his role in the film “Vande Jagadgurum.” In 2015, he was honored with the Padma Shri by then-President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
Director-producer Kranthi Kumar gave Kota Srinivasa Rao his first opportunity on the silver screen. Beyond his acting career, Kota Srinivasa Rao also served as a BJP MLA for Vijayawada East constituency from 1999 to 2004.
Known for bringing a unique dimension to villainous roles, Kota Srinivasa Rao worked alongside numerous leading Telugu actors, including Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan, and Sai Dharam Tej. His memorable films include “Aha Naa Pellanta!,” “Pratighatana,” “Yamudiki Mogudu,” “Khaidi No. 786,” “Shiva,” “Bobbili Raja,” “Yamaleela,” “Santosham,” “Bommarillu,” “Athadu,” and “Race Gurram.”
His passing marks the end of an era in Telugu cinema, leaving behind a void in the industry.
First Piper 