Hyderabad, May 22: Veteran actor Sarath Babu passed away at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Monday at the age of 71.
Sarath Babu breathed his last at AIG Hospitals, where he had been admitted last month. According to family sources, he succumbed to sepsis affecting his entire body and multiple organ failure.
The actor had been brought to Hyderabad from Bengaluru on April 20 and was admitted to AIG for treatment. Despite efforts to address the damage to multiple organs, he had been suffering from sepsis, which severely impacted the functioning of his kidneys, lungs, liver, and other vital organs.
His body is expected to be taken to Chennai for the last rites. The news of Sarath Babu’s death has sent shockwaves throughout the southern film industry. Prominent film personalities and political leaders have expressed their condolences.
Born as Satyam Babu Dixithulu on July 31, 1951, in the Amudalam village of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, Sarath Babu began his acting career in 1973 with the Telugu film “Rama Rajyam.” He gained popularity through Tamil movies such as “Pattina Pravesam” (1977) and “Nizhal Nijamagiradhu” (1978), directed by K. Balachander.
Although known primarily for his work in Telugu and Tamil cinema, he appeared in over 200 films, including a few Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. Sarath Babu was the recipient of the prestigious Nandi Awards nine times for his outstanding performances in supporting roles.
Originally aspiring to become a police officer, Sarath Babu couldn’t realize his dream due to eyesight problems. While his father wanted him to join the family business, with the support of his mother, he ventured into the film industry and established himself as a respected actor.
Throughout his career, Sarath Babu had the opportunity to work with top actors such as N.T. Rama Rao, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, and Chiranjeevi.
