2 days ago
Kota Srinivasa Rao Passes Away: Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, CM Chandrababu Naidu And Others Mourn The Loss
New Delhi: The Telugu film industry and fans across the country woke up to the heartbreaking news on Sunday morning of veteran actor and former MLA Kota Srinivasa Rao's death. Srinivasa passed away early this morning in Hyderabad. The actor was 83.
As soon as the news broke, fans and well-wishers gathered outside his home to pay their last respects.
Tributes began pouring in from actors, filmmakers, politicians, and fans.
Tollywood megastar Chiranjeevi called him a "multifaceted genius" and shared a long note on X (formerly Twitter), remembering his strong screen presence and the "void" his death has left behind.
లెజెండరీ యాక్టర్ , బహుముఖ ప్రజ్ఞా శాలి శ్రీ కోట శ్రీనివాస రావు గారు ఇక లేరు అనే వార్త ఎంతో కలచివేసింది.
'ప్రాణం ఖరీదు' చిత్రం తో ఆయన నేను ఒకే సారి సినిమా కెరీర్ ప్రారంభించాము. ఆ తరువాత వందల కొద్దీ సినిమాల్లో ఎన్నెన్నో విభిన్నమైన పాత్రల్లో నటించి, ప్రతి పాత్రని తన… — Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) July 13, 2025
Vishnu Manchu also shared an emotional post on X: "My heart is heavy with the loss of Sri. Kota Srinivas garu. A phenomenal actor, an unmatched talent, and a man whose presence lit up every frame he was in. Whether it was a serious role, a villain, or comedy- he brought life into every character with a rare mastery that only a few are blessed with. I had the good fortune of working with him in quite a few films, and I grew up watching him in many more. His work shaped my admiration for cinema. "
A Legend Beyond Words.
My heart is heavy with the loss of Sri. Kota Srinivas garu. A phenomenal actor, an unmatched talent, and a man whose presence lit up every frame he was in. Whether it was a serious role, a villain, or comedy- he brought life into every character with a… — Vishnu Manchu (@iVishnuManchu) July 13, 2025
Actor Ravi Teja, who worked with Kota Srinivasa Rao in over 10 films, also expressed his grief. "Grew up watching him, admiring him, and learning from every performance. Kota Babai was like family to me, I cherish the lovely memories of working with him. Rest in peace, Kota Srinivasa Rao garu Om Shanti," he wrote on X.
Grew up watching him, admiring him, and learning from every performance. Kota Babai was like family to me, I cherish the lovely memories of working with him.
Rest in peace, Kota Srinivasa Rao garu Om Shanti. — Ravi Teja (@RaviTeja_offl) July 13, 2025
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu condoled his death, calling it an "irreparable loss" to the Telugu film industry.
In a post on X, CM Chandrababu Naidu said, "The demise of the renowned actor Kota Srinivasa Rao, who won the affection of cinema audiences with his versatile roles, is deeply saddening. His artistic contributions to the fields of cinema and theatre 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."
వైవిధ్యభరితమైన పాత్రలతో సినీ ప్రేక్షకుల అభిమానాన్ని చూరగొన్న ప్రముఖ నటులు కోట శ్రీనివాసరావు గారి మరణం విచారకరం. సుమారు నాలుగు దశాబ్దాల పాటు సినీ, నాటక రంగాలకు ఆయన చేసిన కళా సేవ, ఆయన పోషించిన పాత్రలు చిరస్మరణీయం. విలన్ గా, క్యారెక్టర్ ఆర్టిస్ట్ గా ఆయన పోషించిన ఎన్నో మధురమైన… — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) July 13, 2025
Kota Srinivasa Rao was born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu village, a suburb of Vijayawada city in Andhra Pradesh.
