Any dialect or accent could be rendered effortlessly by Kota Srinivasa Rao in countless films. He created a unique legacy after legendary actors like S.V. Ranga Rao, Kaikala Satyanarayana and Rao Gopala Rao. He also paved a new path in villainy with his distinctive style of acting. Having acted in more than 750 films across varied roles, he captivated Telugu audiences for decades. Kota Srinivasa Rao, aged 83, passed away at his residence in the early hours of Sunday.
Suresh Kavirayani
Versatile actor Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away early Sunday morning at 4 a.m. at his residence in Film Nagar. He was 83 years old and had acted in more than 750 films, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi productions. Born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu of Krishna district, Kota made his film debut with Pranam Khareedu in 1978. He married Rukmini in 1968 and had two daughters and a son. His son, Kota Prasad, tragically died in a road accident on June 21, 2010. The loss deeply devastated Kota.
Before entering films, Kota worked at the State Bank of India for many years. He was one of the few actors who transitioned from theatre to cinema. While working at SBI, he performed in many theatrical productions and won accolades. Thanks to this theatre background, Kota rose to become one of the finest actors in Telugu cinema, known for his versatility and legendary performances.
Kota Srinivasa Rao won nine Nandi Awards for his performances in the films Prathighatana (1985), Gaayam (1993), Theerpu (1994), Little Soldiers (1996), Ganesh (1998), Chinna (2000), Prudhvi Narayana (2002), Aa Naluguru (2004), and Pellaina Kothalo (2006). In 2015, he was honored with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India. He also served as an MLA from Vijayawada East from 1999 to 2004, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party.
He began his career as a supporting actor and villain in many Telugu films. However, with Prathighatana, Kota showcased his versatility and rose to prominence in Telugu cinema. Notably, he pioneered the use of the Telangana accent in Prathighatana. Director Kranthi Kumar introduced him in Pranam Khareedu, and from there, he acted in more than 750 films.
Kota Srinivasa Rao acted alongside three generations of actors such as Superstar Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan, Siddharth, Sai Dharam Tej, and many others. Following in the footsteps of S.V. Ranga Rao, Nagabhushanam, and Kaikala Satyanarayana, Kota became one of the greatest character actors in Telugu cinema.
Many Tollywood personalities, including Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, S.S. Rajamouli, Trivikram Srinivas, Allu Aravind, Rajendra Prasad, Brahmanandam, Babu Mohan, Srikanth, and others, visited Kota’s residence and paid their tributes.
Only Controversial Character: Mandaladeesudu
In his four-decade-long film career, the only controversial character Kota portrayed was in the film Mandaladeesudu. Directed by M. Prabhakar Reddy, Kota played a character modeled after N.T. Rama Rao, who was then the Chief Minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. NTR had founded the Telugu Desam Party and risen to political power. During that time, some filmmakers created films against him, and Mandaladeesudu was one such satire.
Kota revealed in several interviews that he was initially reluctant to act in the film, but he had no choice as he was about to rejoin his job. At the time, he had already acted in Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam, produced by actor Krishna, who was associated with the Congress party. In that film, Kota mimicked one of NTR’s dialogues, which caught the attention of Prabhakar Reddy, who then cast him in Mandaladeesudu. Although the film wasn’t entirely negative, it sparked controversy, and NTR fans and Telugu Desam Party supporters even mobbed Kota at the Vijayawada Railway Station.
Following the incident, Kota expressed his frustration, stating that while the director, writer, and producer were being praised, the actor alone faced criticism. Later, during the dubbing of NTR’s Brahmarshi Viswamitra in Chennai, Kota visited him despite warnings. NTR appreciated his acting, saying, “I heard you are a great actor, brother. In the coming days, you must do many more good films.” An emotional Kota touched NTR’s feet in gratitude.
Later, when Balakrishna was casting for Rowdy Inspector, the producer suggested Kota for a role. After confirming with Balakrishna, who approved, Kota was cast — signaling that the controversy was finally put to rest.
Both of Us Started Our Careers with the Same Film: Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi paid tribute to the legendary actor at his residence, saying that Telugu cinema had suffered a monumental loss. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Kota Srinivasa Rao garu — a truly remarkable and versatile actor. He was a complete artist in every sense. Our cinematic journeys began together with the film Pranam Khareedu, which also marked the beginning for the legendary R. Narayana Murthy garu,” Chiranjeevi recalled.
“Over the years, our bond grew stronger. While his acting brilliance left everyone spellbound, what made him even more special was his company — full of wit, warmth, and endless humor. Sitting with him, listening to his sharp, funny observations, was always a joy. Whenever we had a shoot with Kota garu, we would come in with excitement, knowing the day would be full of life and laughter,” he said.
“There wasn’t a role he couldn’t play, a dialect he couldn’t master, or a character he couldn’t bring to life. He seamlessly transitioned from theatre to cinema, leaving an indelible mark in every role he portrayed. I had the privilege of working with him in numerous films, and each collaboration was a cherished experience,” Chiranjeevi added.
He concluded, “Actors like Kota Srinivasa Rao are truly one of a kind. It is hard to imagine someone else ever matching his depth, range, and presence. I pray for eternal peace to his noble soul and extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
I Met Him Two Days Ago, and Today I Lost Him: Babu Mohan
The Kota Srinivasa Rao–Babu Mohan combination was a massive hit in Telugu cinema. They acted together in more than a hundred films, with Kota usually dominating their comic exchanges. From Bobbili Raja onwards, the duo became iconic, with audiences never tiring of their pairing. In films like Mamagaru, their chemistry was legendary, and distributors often pressured directors to cast the duo because of their popularity.
“Just two days back, I met him at his house. He called me again, and I said I would come. Today, I heard this shocking news,” said Babu Mohan. He added that Kota always treated him like a brother. “We made comedy magic on screen in many films, but off-screen too, we shared the same jovial bond. He was very close to me and always showed affection. Sometimes, when we were in a rush for shooting, he would feed me himself. Whenever we went out for shoots, we stayed in rooms next to each other. I shared a long rapport and close bond with Kota. Today is a sad day in my life — my Kota Anna has left me,” said an emotional Babu Mohan.
One of the Greatest Actors Cinema Has Ever Seen: RGV
Kota Srinivasa Rao played prominent roles in many of Ram Gopal Varma’s films. He won a Nandi Award for RGV’s Gaayam and was introduced to Hindi cinema by RGV with Sarkar. On social media, RGV praised Kota’s immense contribution.
“Kota Srinivasa Rao is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors cinema has ever seen. The effect of his contribution to my films Shiva, Gaayam, Money, Sarkar, and Raktacharitra is immeasurable. Sir Kota Srinivasa Rao garu, you might have gone, but your characters will live forever,” wrote RGV in tribute.
