Veteran actor Chalapathi Rao Passes Away At 78

Veteran actor Chalapathi Rao, known for his roles in Telugu films, passed away on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 78 years old.  

Veteran actor Chalapathi Rao Passes Away At 78

Source : Twitter

New Delhi: Veteran actor Chalapathi Rao, known for his roles in Telugu films, passed away on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 78 years old. Rao has done nearly 600 films and done many comic roles. 

 

Veteran actor Shri #ChalapathiRao (79) passed away due to cardiac arrest.

May his soul rest in peace 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Y2JZNIw8xV

— 𝐕𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐢𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐫 (@UrsVamsiShekar) December 25, 2022

He suffered cardiac arrest at the residence of his son Ravi Babu at Banjara Hills, MLA Colony in the early hours of the day.

Known for his comic and villainous roles, he acted with three generations of top stars in a career spanning over five decades. He is survived by two daughters and a son. Ravi Babu is an actor and filmmaker.

Chalapathi Rao's death is the second major loss to Tollywood in three days. Veteran actor Kaikala Satynarayana had passed away on December 23 and even before the film industry could recover from the shock, the news of Chalapathi Rao's death plunged it into gloom.

Born on May 8, 1944, in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district, Chalapathi Rao entered the film industry with the encouragement by thespian N. T. Rama Rao. He established himself as an actor and producer. Chalapathi Rao acted in more than 600 films.

Chalapathi Rao made his debut in 1966 with 'Ghodachari 116'. He acted in supporting roles with leading actors like N. T. Rama Rao, Krishna, Nagarjuna, Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh. He also produced a few films.

He is survived by his wife Indumaty, and their three children. His son Ravi Babu is an actor, filmmaker, and producer in Tollywood. 

Chalapathi Rao's family said that the last rites will be performed on December 28 after the arrival of his daughter from the United States. They said that the body would be kept at Ravi Babu's house till 3 p.m. on Sunday to enable Tollywood personalities and fans to pay their last respects. It will then be moved to the freezer at Mahaprasthanam in Jubilee Hills where the last rites will be performed on Wednesday.

(With IANS inputs)