Kota Srinivasa Rao captivated audiences over four decades with his versatile performances. Not just in Telugu, he proved his mettle in Tamil and Hindi films as well. As an actor who carved a distinct niche in Telugu cinema, Kota is celebrated for his unique style. His roles as a comedian and villain turned many films into massive hits. He won numerous awards and acted in over 750 films, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
Born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu, Krishna district, Kota started his career as a theatre artist and later worked at the State Bank before entering films. He married Rukmini in 1966 and they had two daughters and a son. Even before stepping into cinema with the 1978 film Pranam Khareedu, Kota had 20 years of theatre experience. His entry into films came when director Kranti Kumar, impressed by his performance in a stage play, decided to adapt it into a film and cast the original actors. Though initially not serious about films, by 1986 he began focusing deeply on cinema. He gained immense popularity with his Telangana accented portrayal of Gudisela Kasayya in Pratighatana (1985). From then on, there was no looking back. Be it as a villain, comedian, character actor, or supporting artist Kota excelled in every role, bringing to life a full range of emotions.
Some of his iconic roles include Ahana Pellanta (1987) as the miser Lakshmipati, Gaayam (1993) as a political goon, Yamaleela (1994) as a sorcerer, Money (1993) for his memorable English dialogues, Intlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu (1996) as Venkatesh’s father, Ganesh (1998) as the comical villain Sambashivudu, Aa Naluguru (2004), which earned him a Nandi Award, He worked alongside stars like Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej. Films like Yamudiki Mogudu, Khaidi No 786, Siva, Bobbili Raja, Santosham, Bommarillu, Athadu, and Race Gurram brought him wide recognition. Kota’s final appearance was in the 2023 film Suvarna Sundari. Earlier, he featured in Kondapolam and Power Play in 2021. With over 750 films to his credit, he won numerous honors, including nine Nandi Awards, the Padma Shri in 2015, the SIIMA Award for Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012) and the Dr Allu Ramalingaiah Kalapeetham National Award (2013).
He also had a political stint, serving as BJP MLA for Vijayawada East from 1999 to 2004. Known for his mimicry skills, expressive acting and exceptional dialogue delivery, he brought to life a variety of characters stingy old men, naughty grandpas, corrupt leaders, comedic villains, policemen and sorcerers. Following in the footsteps of legends like SV Ranga Rao, Kaikala Satyanarayana, and Rao Gopal Rao, Kota filled a significant void in Telugu cinema. Sadly, he passed away at 4 AM today at his residence in Film Nagar, Hyderabad, after battling health issues for several days. Fans are struggling to come to terms with the loss of such a remarkable actor.