Telugu actor and former BJP MLA Kota Srinivasa Rao died on Sunday at the age of 83 due to prolonged illness. He took his last breath in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad on Sunday, July 13.

Srinivas Rao made his big-screen debut in 1978 with Pranam Khareedhu. His career spanned over four decades with more than 750 on-screen appearances in 40 years. He has contributed not just to Telugu cinema but also given his valuable inputs to Tamil, Kannada and Hindi cinema as an artist. He is known for his critically acclaimed antagonist characters in his entire journey.

Kota Srinivas Rao was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2015.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu condoled the loss of the actor and said, “His passing is an irreparable loss to the Telugu film industry…” He shared that in 1999, Srinivas Rao won as the MLA from Vijaywada.

“His artistic contributions to the fields of cinema and theater over nearly four decades, and the roles he portrayed, will remain unforgettable. The numerous memorable roles he played as a villain and character artist will forever stay etched in the hearts of Telugu audiences,” he added.

Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy also took to X and offered his condolences for Kota Srinivas Rao. In couplets he wrote, “To the film industry, his absence is an irreplaceable loss. Though Kota garu is no longer with us physically… through the diverse roles he portrayed… he will remain forever in the hearts of Telugu people.”

Sreenu Vaital, director and film writer, was also “heartbroken” by Srinivas Rao’s demise. “He was a master of modulation, emotion, and screen presence,” he added in his post on X.

His iconic roles in films like Siva, Gaayam, Money, Satruvu, Aha Naa Pellanta, Bommarillu, Athadu, Rakta Charitra, Leader, S/O Satyamurthy, and Attarintiki Daredi will forever remain a shining moment in cinema. He was last seen in the Kannada film Kabzaa (2023).