Veteran actor Kota Srinivas Rao. Photo Credit: X@Revanth_anumula
Veteran Telugu actor Kota Srinivasa Rao, who gave a new style to villain and comedy roles, died at his residence in Hyderabad in the early hours of Sunday (July 13, 2025). He was 83 years old.
A former BJP MLA from Vijayawada, senior actor, known as Kota, was unwell due to age -related issues for the last few months.
With a career spread over four decades, Kota acted in over 750 films and left his indelible mark in comedy, villain and character artist roles. His unique dialogue distribution in Telangana Slang made him a domestic name.
Start of their journey
The actor began his journey as a theater artist and later transition in films. Although born in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, he used Telangana dialect with talent to make a name for himself. He shot for fame with a politician’s depiction in the award -winning film ‘Pritighatana’, where he played a villain comedian role with unique punishment and cleverly.
With his comedy in ‘Aha Na Palenta’, he reached new peaks and no one can forget his memorable dialogues with Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Gayam’ who are still favorite of the creators.
Inspired by his friend and coctor Babu Mohan, he took a dip in politics and won from the BJP ticket from Vijava Qaida constituency in United Andhra Pradesh and served as an MLA since 1999-2004. Later, he focused on films that politics is not a cup of tea.
Also read: Silence fall of single-screen theaters in Andhra
Shattered after son’s death
Kota was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2015, and also received several awards from the state governments and film associations. A vocal person, he was deeply distressed when his son died in a road accident and he was a broken man ever since. Over the last few years, he hardly did any film assignment, which was limiting himself to the house due to age -related issues.
His contribution to Telugu cinema is irreversible and he will have his own page in the Telugu film industry to influence freshness in comedy and character roles during his period.
Mourning
The Chief Minister is a Revantha Reddy, Cinematography Minister Komatiriddy Venkat Reddy, Transport Minister Ponam Prabhakar, BRS chief and former Chief Minister. Chandrashekhar Rao and State BJP President N. Ramchander Rao told his death that the industry lost excellence across an actor.
Published – July 13, 2025 08:59 AM IST
