
Mahesh Babu remembers Kota Srinivasa Rao, says "We grew up watching and learning from him"
The Telugu film industry is mourning the loss of legendary actor
Kota Srinivasa Rao
, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday, July 13, at the age of 83. The veteran star, known for his remarkable versatility across genres and languages, breathed his last at his Hyderabad residence following prolonged age-related health issues.
Superstar
Mahesh Babu
has penned an emotional message on social media. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mahesh Babu expressed his grief, writing, "Saddened to hear about the passing of Kota
Srinivasa Rao
garu..This loss feels personal to all of us who grew up watching and learning from him…May his soul rest in peace. Sending Strength and prayers to his family."
Mahesh Babu has shared screen space with Kota garu in films like 'Athadu' and 'Sainikudu'.
"This loss feels personal"
Apart from Mahesh Babu numerous other celebrities and fans flooded social media with tributes, sharing memories and celebrating the life of the legendary actor. His contributions to
Indian cinema
were recognised with numerous awards, including nine Nandi Awards and the prestigious
Padma Shri
in 2015.
Actors remember his impact and legacy
Actor Manchu Manoj shared multiple pictures of the veteran actor and some stills from the film's he featured, he wrote, "A legendary actor and a truly remarkable human being, Padma Shri Kota Srinivasa Rao Garu has left an indelible mark on Telugu cinema. Heartbroken to hear about the loss of my all time favourite actor. Your legacy will live on in our hearts and through generations to come sir. Om Shanti"
Rohit Nara wrote, "It's deeply saddening to hear that Kota Srinivasa Rao garu is no more. A true legend of Telugu cinema, he was the epitome of versatility, effortlessly breathing life into every role he played. Whether it was Minister Kasayya, Lakshmipathi, Guru Narayana, Sambasivudu, Thadi Mattayya, or Alladdin, each character carved a lasting place in our hearts. With his passing, an era has ended. ఓం శాంతి!"
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Pink Villa
18 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
Superman Box Office: Man of Steel lifts off to 29cr weekend in India
Superman debuted with Rs. 29 crore (USD 3.40 million) approx at the Indian box office during its first weekend. The weekend ranks as the third biggest ever for a DC film, behind Batman v Superman (Rs. 34 crore) and Aquaman (Rs. 30 crore). However, both those films included previews, in terms of the pure Friday-Saturday-Sunday frame, Superman actually tops the list. Man of Steel..., not the movie but the man, also edged past Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Rs. 28 crore), despite starting slightly behind on its first day. The film had a typical trend for a superhero movie, where Friday numbers are frontloaded due to fan-driven demand, resulting in relatively modest weekend growth. The film managed 35 per cent growth on Saturday, stronger than the norm by genre standards. Sunday saw a minor 5 per cent drop, which is again normal for Hollywood releases with a skew toward metro audiences. Similar to its weekend trend, the film is expected to follow the typical trajectory going forward. The Batman closed at Rs. 56 crore off Rs. 26 crore weekend, giving it a 2.15x multiple, while GoTG Vol. 3 managed 2.43x with Rs. 68 crore from Rs. 28 crore weekend. Superman will likely see something similar with a final number somewhere in Rs. 60-70 crore. The superhero genre is a major draw for Indian audiences when it comes to Hollywood, however, that success has largely been driven by Marvel. DC has historically lagged behind. Furthermore, director James Gunn's brand of filmmaking resonates more with the West than India. His Guardians films were among the lower-performing entries from the MCU in India as compared to the West. More broadly, the superhero genre itself has seen a slowdown lately, following its peak in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Taking all of that into account, the opening for Superman is a respectable one. In fact, relative to its softer start overseas outside the US, India is among the better markets for it.
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
24 minutes ago
- Business Standard
First female superstar of Kannada cinema dies at 87-who was B Saroja Devi?
The curtains have fallen on an era. B Saroja Devi, one of the most iconic stars of Indian cinema, passed away on Monday at the age of 87. Found unconscious at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, the veteran actress was rushed to hospital, where doctors confirmed her death. Her demise leaves a deep void in Indian film history and in the hearts of generations of film lovers. Celebrated for her grace, versatility, and magnetic screen presence, Saroja Devi starred in over 200 films spanning Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema. She was popularly known as the 'Chaturbhasha Taare', or the 'four-language star', and rightfully so, very few actresses of her time could command the screen in as many languages with such ease and consistency. Who is B Saroja Devi? In 1955, Saroja Devi made her cinematic debut in the Kannada classic Mahakavi Kalidasa at the age of 17. But it was her role alongside M.G. Ramachandran in the 1958 Tamil smash Nadodi Mannan that instantly made her famous and a household name. Over the years, she received a number of important honours. In 1969, she received the Padma Shri, and in 1992, she received the Padma Bhushan. In addition, she received an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University and the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani Award. About Saroja Devi's career' Industry heavyweights Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, N.T. Rama Rao and Dr. Rajkumar co-starred with Saroja Devi. She played the lead in 161 consecutive films between 1955 and 1984, which is a record in Indian cinema history. M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi had one of the most famous on-screen partnerships. Together, they produced 26 straight hits, such as Dharmam Thalaikakkum, Kudumba Thalaivan, Needhi, and Thaai Sollai Thathadhe. One of the most recognisable partnerships in South Indian film history is still the chemistry between MGR and Saroja Devi. Her work with Sivaji Ganesan was equally renowned. The pair starred in 22 consecutive box office hits, such as Bhaaga Pirivinai, Engal Kudumbam Perisu, Sabaash Meena, and Thangamalai Ragasiyam. In Telugu, she starred with N.T. Rama Rao in critically and commercially successful films like Seetarama Kalyanam, Jagadeka Veeruni Katha, and Daagudu Moothalu. Saroja Devi also established herself in Hindi cinema, starring in popular films such as Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Sasural, Opera House, and Paigham. Her genius is still remembered and honoured today, as evidenced by the numerous tributes that are coming in from throughout the nation. B. Saroja Devi's personal life' She was born in Bengaluru on January 7, 1938, the fourth child of homemaker Rudramma and policeman Bhairappa. She lost her husband, Sri Harsha, in 1986. She remained composed in the face of the tragedy, mentoring upcoming filmmakers and supporting innovative projects in Indian cinema.


NDTV
30 minutes ago
- NDTV
Maalik Box Office Day 3: Progress Report On Rajkummar Rao's Gangster Drama
New Delhi: Rajkummar Rao's Maalik was released on July 11. The film's weekend box office collection is here. What's happening Maalik has minted Rs 5.25 crore at the Indian box office on its first Sunday, July 13, reported Sacnilk. The total collection stands at Rs 14.25 Crore. The film saw an overall '20.77% Hindi occupancy on Sunday,' the report added. The morning show saw the least occupancy at 8.05%. As for afternoon and evening shows, the occupancy stood at 22.43% and 29.79% respectively. Whereas the night show saw a 22.81% occupancy, the report added. The opening day box office figure for Maalik was Rs 3.75 crore. The film locked horns with Vikrant Massey's Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan at the box office. It marked Shanaya Kapoor's Bollywood debut. Background Maalik features Prosenjit Chatterjee, Manushi Chhillar, Saurabh Sachdeva, Saurabh Shukla, Anshumaan Pushkar, Swanand Kirkire, Rajendra Gupta and Baljinder Kaur. The gangster-drama has been directed by Pulkit. Tips Industries Limited and Northern Lights Films have jointly bankrolled the film. Rajkummar Rao on Maalik Rajkummar Rao also opened up about playing a negative role on the big screen. Speaking to Zoom, he said, 'There's a lot more inside me to explore as an actor, which I have not done earlier. Maalik is certainly one of the few things that I wanted to do, and I was waiting for the right script. It's not like action films weren't offered to me before, but the story wasn't there. For me, action is not just action—there has to be a story, and action should be a part of it." Rajkummar Rao also spoke about Shah Rukh Khan's desire to do action films in his career. 'He [Shah Rukh Khan] has said it in his interviews that he wanted to do action films since day one, and it's happening now, and I [RajKummar Rao] am glad. As an audience, I'm loving it, and they were doing well at the box office."