Veteran Telugu actor Rallapalli Narasimha Rao dies at 73

Veteran Telugu actor Rallapalli Venkata Narasimha Rao, fondly called as Rallapalli, passed away at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Friday while undergoing treatment.

According to reports, the 73-year-old, who has acted in over 800 films, was suffering from a lung problem. He was reportedly admitted to the hospital on May 15.

The Anantapur-born artist has acted in over 800 films, and is known for his comic roles. He began his career in 1960 as a stage artiste before entering the film industry.

He is known for playing the role of a transgender in Mani Ratnam’s Bombay. That apart, he has also acted popular Tollywood actors including Chiranjeevi, Rajendra Prasad and Venkatesh Daggubati, among others. Some of his popular films are Sitaara, Coolie No 1, Chali Cheemalu, Aha Naa-Pellanta!, Toorpu Velle Railu, Srivariki Premalekha, Khaidi and Alaya Sikharam. His last film was Bhale Bhale Magadivoy with Nani.