Chalapathi Rao, Accomplished Actor known for his comic and villainous roles, dies at 78

(Chalapathi Rao . Photo credit : PR handout)

Veteran actor Chalapathi Rao passes away at 78.

Chalapathi Rao was best known for his comic and villainous roles in Telugu cinema and had starred in over 600 films. He is also the father of actor-filmmaker Ravi Babu.

Veteran actor Chalapathi Rao passed away on Sunday morning (December 25) after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 78 years old. Chalapathi Rao was best known for his comic and villainous roles in Telugu cinema and had starred in over 600 films.

photo source: wikipedia

Rao was from Baliparru, Andhra Pradesh. His son Ravi Babu is also an actor, filmmaker, and producer in Tollywood. Rao had starred in innumerable films including Sakshi (1966), Driver Ramudu (1979), Vajram (1995), and even the Bollywood film Kick (2009).

After the news of his death broke, there was an outpouring of condolences and grief on Twitter, with many calling him the ‘finest and boldest’ actors of the current generation.

 

One wrote, “Finest and boldest actor of the past and present generation Miss you and your apt roles Om shanti.”

 Another condoled, “We lost another great actor…” 

A third added that it was a ‘terrible’ year for Tollywood. 

Fans took to social media and shared old videos of him from films.