Veteran Telugu actor, director and producer Giri Babu(80) passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kondapur, Hyderabad. The senior actor had reportedly been suffering from health-related complications for some time. His demise has brought sadness to the Telugu film industry, where he enjoyed a distinguished career spanning more than five decades.
Born Yerra Seshagiri Rao on June 8 in Ravinuthala village, part of Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh, Giri Babu developed an interest in acting and theatre during his early years. His passion for performing arts eventually led him to the film industry, where he established himself as one of Telugu cinema’s most recognisable character actors.
Giri Babu made his acting debut with Jagame Maya in 1973. Although he initially appeared in leading roles, he subsequently gained widespread recognition for his performances as an antagonist, comedian and supporting actor. His distinctive dialogue delivery, screen presence and versatility helped him build a successful career across different genres.
Over the decades, Giri Babu appeared in more than 600 films and worked alongside several generations of prominent Telugu actors, including N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Mohan Babu and Nagarjuna.
One of his memorable early performances came in the 1977 mythological film Kurukshetram, in which he portrayed Dushasana. His other notable films included Jyothi, Merupu Daadi, Pasivadi Pranam, Hello Brother, Sisindri, Little Soldiers, Ninne Pelladata and Chandralekha.
He also appeared in several films featuring younger-generation actors, including Gamyam, A Aa, Geetha Govindam, Disco Raja, Jathi Ratnalu, Most Eligible Bachelor, Oke Oka Jeevitham and Anni Manchi Sakunamule. His continued association with contemporary filmmakers reflected his ability to adapt to changing cinematic trends.
Beyond acting, Giri Babu made contributions as a director and producer. His directorial ventures included Ranarangam (1985), Indrajith (1990) and Nee Sukhame Ne Koruthunna (2008). He was also associated with the production of films such as Devathalara Deevinchandi and Merupu Daadi.
Giri Babu is survived by two sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Raghu Babu, is a prominent Telugu comedian and character actor. His younger son, Bose Babu, also entered the film industry. His wife, Sridevi, passed away in 2016.
With his passing, Telugu cinema has lost a veteran performer whose extensive body of work entertained audiences across generations.
