Kota Srinivasa Rao

Kota Srinivasa Rao (July 10, 1942 – July 13, 2025) was a legendary Indian actor, politician, and theatre artist, celebrated as one of the most versatile and prolific character actors in Telugu cinema, alongside extensive work in Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam films. Born in Kankipadu, Andhra Pradesh, to a doctor father, he initially pursued a Bachelor of Science degree and worked as a State Bank of India employee before fully dedicating himself to his passion for acting. He made his feature film debut alongside Chiranjeevi in *Pranam Khareedu* (1978). In the 1980s and 1990s, Kota established an indomitable screen presence, displaying unmatched mastery over local dialects, comedic timing, and menacing villainy. His career-defining breakthrough arrived with the comedy *Aha Naa Pellanta* (1987), where his portrayal of the extreme miser Lakshmipathy became an iconic cultural touchstone. He consistently elevated films by playing ruthless politicians, strict patriarchs, and hilarious antagonists in massive hits like Ram Gopal Varma's *Shiva* (1989), *Gaayam* (1993), *Hello Brother* (1994), and *Ganesh* (1998). Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, he remained a ubiquitous and indispensable force in Telugu cinema. He delivered brilliant performances in blockbusters such as *Idiot* (2002), *Athadu* (2005), *Bommarillu* (2006), *Ready* (2008), *Leader* (2010), *Rakta Charitra* (2010), *Dookudu* (2011), *Attarintiki Daredi* (2013), and *S/O Satyamurthy* (2015). He concurrently made a powerful impact in other industries, most notably as the antagonist in the Tamil blockbuster *Saamy* (2003) and the Hindi crime epic *Sarkar* (2005). Beyond cinema, he ventured into politics and successfully served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing the Vijayawada East constituency from 1999 to 2004 under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Over a monumental career spanning nearly five decades and over 750 films, Kota received nine Nandi Awards across the Best Villain, Best Character Actor, and Best Supporting Actor categories. In 2015, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri, the nation's fourth-highest civilian award, for his invaluable contributions to Indian cinema. After a prolonged illness, he passed away on July 13, 2025, in Hyderabad at the age of 83, leaving behind a massive legacy in Telugu cinema. His final on-screen appearance was in the period epic *Hari Hara Veera Mallu* (2025).