Kota Srinivasa Rao, legendary Telugu actor, dies aged 83

The actor worked in over 750 films, with a career spanning over four decades

Last updated: July 13, 2025 | 11:59

Nishitha Rachel, Assistant Social Media Editor

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Kota Srinivasa Rao, legendary Telugu actor, dies aged 83

Dubai: The Telugu film industry is in mourning after veteran actor, Kota Srinivasa Rao dies at 83, due to a prolonged illness at his residence in Hyderabad, India.

The actor, who celebrated his 83^rd birthday recently, died in the early hours of Sunday, July 13.

Rao, born in Andhra Pradesh, began his acting career in 1978 with Telugu-language film Pranam Khareedhu. He went on to act in several other Indian language films, including Tamil, Kannada and Hindi.

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The actor was also a theatre artiste before he began his career in films. He also worked in over 750 films in his career, played the role of the antagonist the most. Some of his biggest films include Shiva, Aha Naa Pellanta and more. His last appearance in a film was in Kabzaa (2023).

Rao was also a recipient to several awards, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2015 for his contribution to Indian cinema.

Not only was Rao in the film industry, he also served as a MLA for BJP, from 1999 to 2004.

Nishitha RachelAssistant Social Media Editor

Nishitha serves as the Assistant Social Media Editor at Gulf News, where she skilfully orchestrates the publication's online presence. With a dedicated approach to engaging readers, she expertly manages all social media platforms and is a direct line for reader queries. Nishitha's journey in journalism began with a flourish in the entertainment beat, a world she continues to explore with enthusiasm. Her love for Korean culture shines through her reporting on UAE-based events, bringing the best of both worlds to her audience. A highlight of her career, and certainly a dream come true for any K-Pop enthusiast, was interviewing acclaimed Korean singers, including Chen from the globally renowned boy group, EXO.

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