Hyderabad: Popular comedian-actor of Telugu films Venu Madhav, who had worked in a record 600 movies along with many top stars, died in hospital in Hyderabad on Wednesday morning. The 40-year-old actor was suffering from kidney ailment and was undergoing treatment for the last two-and-a-half weeks.
The news left the Telugu movie world shocked with condolences pouring in from several top celebrities and the politicians including the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu, who had played a key role in promoting his talent also expressed his deep shock and grief.
The actor with Charlie Chaplin looks had got his first role in 1996 movie “Sampardayam”.
Venu Madhav, born in Kodad in Telangana came from a very humble background and before getting a chance to prove his acting talent he was working as an office boy for the legendary Telugu actor NT Rama Rao at a monthly salary of Rs600. He had impressed NTR with his talent by mimicking the super stars style and dialogue deliver on stage in annual conference of TDP. This earned him not only affecting of the legendary actor but also a break into the industry. At the peak of Venu’s popularity no Telugu film was popular without his presence as a comedian bringing smiles to the face of the moviegoers.
Interestingly he kept away from films for sometime as he was unhappy with the sort of roles offered to him. “These days they are making such films that I cannot sit and watch them with my family members”, he said in an interview.
Telangana’s minister for cinematography T Srinivas Yadav visited Yashodha hospital and announced Rs2 lakh towards the expenses of Venu’s last rite in addition to financial grant to his family.
