Comedian Mada Venkateswara Rao Passes Away

Telugu comedian Mada Venkateswara Rao breathed his last at a private hospital in Hyderabad, a family source said. He was 65.

"He passed away on Saturday night while undergoing treatment for respiratory problems," the source informed.

Born in 1950, the veteran actor shot to fame with his portrayal of an eunuch in filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao's 1977 film Chillara Kottu Chitemma.

Before becoming a full-fledged actor, he was employed in the electricity department.

With over 300 movies to his credit, he had starred in films such as Mutyala Muggu, Lambadolla Ramdasu, Mayadari Malligadu and Siviah.