Veteran Telugu actor Giri Babu passes away; AP CM Dy Cm Condole

Hyderabad, Nov 15 (TNT): Veteran Telugu actor, director and producer Giri Babu, ( Yerra Seshagiri Rao), passed away while undergoing treatment for age-related health complications at a private hospital here on Saturday evening.

He was 83.

He is survived by two children, including well-known Telugu comedian and actor Raghu Babu.

Giri Babu, whose film career spanned over five decades, acted in more than 600 films in various roles, including hero, antagonist, comedian and character artiste. He also established himself as a director and producer in the Telugu film industry.

Born into a middle-class agricultural family at Ravinuthala village in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, he moved to Madras to pursue his passion for cinema. He made his acting debut with ‘Jagame Maya’ and initially appeared as a lead actor before gaining recognition for his villainous, comic and character roles.

His directorial and production ventures included ‘Ranarangam’, ‘Indrajith’ and ‘Simha Garjana’.

His mortal remains were kept at the Film Chamber in Hyderabad on Saturday for public homage, where several film personalities paid their last respects.

Later, his body was taken to his native village Ravinuthala, where the final rites are scheduled to be performed on Sunday between 3 PM and 4 PM.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over his demise and recalled his contribution to Telugu cinema.

In a social media post, he said Giri Babu had entertained audiences for five decades through more than 600 films in different roles. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also condoled his death, saying Giri Babu had made a mark in a variety of roles and was equally effective as a villain, hero and character artiste.

He also recalled his achievements as a producer and director and conveyed his sympathies to Raghu Babu and other family members.

Megastar Chiranjeevi expressed shock over the actor’s demise and recalled his contributions as an actor, producer and director.

He said Giri Babu’s distinctive style and versatile performances would remain unforgettable and described his death as a major loss to the film industry.

Actor Mohan Babu, recalling his close personal association with Giri Babu, described him as a large-hearted person who excelled in several distinctive roles.

He said the veteran had achieved success as an actor, director and producer and prayed for strength to the bereaved family.

Nandamuri Balakrishna recalled his association with Giri Babu from the early stages of his film career, when they worked together in ‘Annadammula Anubandham’.

He said Giri Babu had also played significant roles in several of his films and described him as a good actor and a good human being. He conveyed his condolences to Raghu Babu and other family members.

The Movie Artistes Association (MAA) also expressed condolences to the bereaved family, recalling Giri Babu’s association with the organisation as a life member.