Kota Srinivasa Rao
- Acting
- July 10, 1944 · Vijayawada, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India
- July 13, 2025
Biography
Kota Srinivasa Rao (born 10 July 1942 –13 July 2025) was an Indian actor, politician, and theatre artist who worked primarily in Telugu cinema, as well as Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam films. He made his feature film debut in *Pranam Khareedu* (1978), alongside Chiranjeevi. His breakthrough came with the comedy *Aha Naa Pellanta* (1987), in which he played the miser Lakshmipathy. He later appeared as politicians, patriarchs, and antagonists in films including Ram Gopal Varma's *Shiva* (1989), *Gaayam* (1993), *Hello Brother* (1994), and *Ganesh* (1998). During the 2000s and 2010s, he appeared in films including *Idiot* (2002), *Athadu* (2005), *Bommarillu* (2006), *Ready* (2008), *Leader* (2010), *Rakta Charitra* (2010), *Dookudu* (2011), *Attarintiki Daredi* (2013), and *S/O Satyamurthy* (2015). His other-language film roles included the antagonist in the Tamil film *Saamy* (2003) and a role in the Hindi film *Sarkar* (2005). He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Vijayawada East from 1999 to 2004 as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Over a career spanning nearly five decades and more than 750 films, Kota received nine Nandi Awards in the Best Villain, Best Character Actor, and Best Supporting Actor categories. In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Shri. He died in Hyderabad on 13 July 2025, aged 83. His final on-screen appearance was in the period film *Hari Hara Veera Mallu* (2025).
Known for
Filmography
- Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit · Peddha Dora
- Maya Bazaar - For Sale · Father In Law
- Kabzaa
- Dochevaarevarura
- Suvarna Sundari
- Hero · Arjun's Father
- Konda Polam
- Aaradugula Bullet · Minister
- Power Play
- Narthanasala · Virata Raju
- Rajdooth
- Sita
- ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi
- Maharshi · Pooja's maternal grandfather
- Saamy² · Ilaiya Perumal (Perumal Pichai)
- Achari America Yatra
- Kaathadi
- Gayatri
- Jawaan · Babaayi
- Balakrishnudu · Bapu
- Maragadha Naanayam · Astrologer
- Radha · Chief minister
- Gunturodu · M.L.A.Koteswara Rao
- Siddhartha
- Baaghi · Film Producer
- Terror
- Saahasam · Varatharajan
- Subramanyam For Sale · Govind's father
- Jadoogadu
- Lion
- Son of Satyamurthy · Devaraj's father
- Tungabhadra · Paiditalli
- Temper · Judge
- Govindudu Andarivaadele · Balaraju's brother
- Aranmanai
- Power · Baldev's Uncle
- Anukshanam · Harish Reddy
- Run Raja Run · Govindaraju
- Jump Jilani
- Prathinidhi · Sambasiva Rao
- Damaal Dumeel
- Thalaivan
- Race Gurram · Hanumayya
- Malini 22 Palayamkottai · Santhanam
- Yevadu · Central Minister
- Kshatriya · Madhu's Grandfather
- Acham Thavir
- All in All Azhagu Raja · Chokkanathan
- Doosukeltha · Rajeshwar, Alekhya's Grandfather
- Ramayya Vasthavayya · Umapathi
- Atharintiki Daaredi · Siddhappa
- Adda
- Operation Duryodhana 2
- Greeku Veerudu
- Okkadine · Sivaiah
- Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu · Brahmananda Rao
- Genius · Peddha babu fan
- Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum · Subrahmanyam
- Dhenikaina Ready · Rudrama Naidu
- Cameraman Ganga Tho Rambabu · Ex-Chief Minister Jawahar Naidu
- Thaandavam · Union Home Minister
- Srimannarayana
- Julayi · MLA Varadarajulu
- Saguni · Perumal
- Adhinayakudu
- Gabbar Singh · Heroine Father
- Dhammu · Veera Durgam Rajavaaru
- Rachcha · Baireddanna
- Maasi
- Poola Rangadu · Ranga's Father
- Kshetram
- 8aam Number Veedu
- Priyudu
- Bejawada · Ramana
- Dookudu · Mallesh Goud
- Mambattiyan · Annachchi
- Shrimathi
- The Train · Tiwary
- Nenu Naa Rakshasi · Vishwanath
- Ko · Alavandhan