Telugu actor and comedian Fish Venkat passes away at 53

Indian Express

6 days ago

Veteran Telugu actor and comedian Fish Venkat, known off-screen as Venkat Raj, passed away on Friday at a hospital in Hyderabad following complications related to kidney failure. He was 53 years old. According to 123 Telugu, the actor had been battling severe kidney-related health issues for several months. His condition had recently deteriorated, leading to hospitalisation and intensive care, with doctors recommending an urgent kidney transplant. Despite ongoing dialysis and ventilator support, Venkat's condition continued to worsen.
Widely recognised for his distinct and effortless comic timing, Fish Venkat was a familiar face in Telugu cinema, with a career spanning more than 100 films. He was introduced to the industry by the late filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao in the movie Sammakka Sarakka. His performances in films like Kushi, Bunny, Adhurs, Gabbar Singh, DJ Tillu, Slum Dog Husband, and Coffee with a Killer earned him a loyal fanbase and critical appreciation.
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In recent weeks, Venkat's daughter Shravanthi publicly appealed for financial assistance to fund his kidney transplant, which was estimated to cost around Rs 50 lakh. While some misleading reports claimed that actor Prabhas had extended financial aid, the family clarified that these were part of a scam involving impersonation. They told Suman TV, 'Actually, nothing like that happened. We have been answering every call we get to see if anyone can help us. Some unknown person called us pretending to be Prabhas Anna's assistant. We found out after that it was a fake call. He doesn't even know something like this is happening. We have not received any financial help yet.'
However, genuine contributions did come in from actor Pawan Kalyan, who donated Rs 2 lakh, actor Vishwak Sen, and a Telangana state minister. But a suitable kidney donor could not be found in time. Fish Venkat is survived by his wife and three children. His untimely death has left fans, colleagues, and the Telugu film fraternity in mourning. The loss comes on the heels of other recent tragedies in the industry, including the deaths of Kota Srinivasa Rao Garu and actor Ravi Teja's father, Rajagopal Raju, deepening the sense of grief within the community.