Tollywood celebrities and politicians took to social media to condole the death of veteran actor Chalapathi Rao (78), who died of a cardiac arrest at his residence on Saturday night. He is said to have acted in more than 1,200 films portraying a variety of roles including villain, comic and character roles in a career spanning five decades. He was a staunch assistant to actor NT Rama Rao in love with the actors and technicians of the Telugu film industry, who called him ‘Babai’.
Chalapathi Rao acted in several Telugu films as a supporting actor and villain with NT Rama Rao, Krishna, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh, and Pawan Kalyan, Jr NTR, Manchu Vishnu and the younger generation of actors.
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister and former actor RK Roja said Chalapathi Rao was a very positive person and his death was a great loss to the film industry.
Senior actor Chalapati Rao Garu, although he appears mostly in a negative role on the silver screen, in real life he is a very positive man who did not die in the film industry, praying to God to rest his holy soul.
Peace be upon you 🙏 #ChalapathiRao pic.twitter.com/D6qd6GgPJm— Roja Selvamani (@RojaSelvamaniRK) December 25, 2022
Message from Nandamuri Kalyan Ram.
Chalapathi Rao babai is very dear to me and my family too. His sudden death has come as a complete shock to our entire family. Words cannot describe this loss. May his family be blessed with the strength to get through this pain.
Om Shanti 🙏🏽
— Kalyanram Nandamuri (@NANDAMURIKALYAN) December 25, 2022
Jana Sena party chief and actor Pawan Kalyan also tweeted his condolence message.
श्री चलापाती राव गारु मुर्य बद्धाकराम – Sh JanaSena Chief @PawanKalyan pic.twitter.com/1RdM7NS5BX
— JanaSena Party (@JanaSenaParty) December 25, 2022
Sad to know that veteran actor Chalapathi Rao garu and one of the nicest human beings. He always kept the people around him happy with his cheerful nature. Strength to his family was tweeted by director Sreenu Vaitla.
Megastar Chiranjeevi, who acted in several films with Chalapathi Rao, tweeted his condolences.
The news of the untimely death of Sri Chalapati Rao, a unique actor who won the hearts of the Telugu audience with his style, shocked me. I acted with him in many films. ஆயையாய்யாயு சு சுக்குயுமுமுயுயுயு குயுக்கு க்குயுக்குமுமும்
— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) December 25, 2022
The actor went to the late actor’s residence and paid tribute to the actor and offered his condolences to his son Ravi Babu and other family members.
Deeply saddened by the death of the most loved human being and actor and Babai “Chalapathi Rao” garu of Tollywood My heart felt condolences to the family and friends- Kona Venkat- the producer.
Actor and Leader #NandamuriBalakrishna Garu expressed his grief over the sudden death of the veteran actor #ChalapathiRao Our deepest condolences to the family members in this hour of sorrow. pic.twitter.com/a1HE1TkWZr
— Vamsi Kaka (@vamsikaka) December 25, 2022
“Sri. Chalapathi rao garu was a towering figure, on and off screen. He was always wise and insightful. His death is painful. I pray for the strength of his families,” actor Manchu Vishnu tweeted. His brother Manchu Manoj also tweeted his condolences.
The veteran actor has a son who is actor, director and producer Ravi Babu and two daughters. The cremation will take place at the Mahaprasthanam in Jubillee hills on Wednesday morning, as A has to come to India for his daughters who live in the US.
Ravi Babu told the media that his father died peacefully after having lunch at his residence.
Also read: Jr NTR’s emotional tweet after actor Chalapathi Rao’s death