From Mahesh Babu and Nani to Anushka Shetty, Tollywood celebrities pay tribute to Gollapudi Maruthi Rao on social media

Veteran actor, writer, director and screenwriter Gollapudi Maruthi Rao passed away in Chennai on Thursday (November 12) afternoon. The 80-year-old thespian has been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in T Nagar and according to reports; he breathed his last at around 12 noon due to age-related ailments.
In a film career spanning for close to four decades, Maruthi Rao featured in over 250 films and played a multitude of roles.He made his acting debut with Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya (1982) and his last film was the Aadi Saikumar starrer Jodi (2019). Besides his on-screen performances, the talented personality was best known for penning down films like Doctor Chakravarthy, Tharangini, Samsaram Chadharangam and Kallu among more. He won the Nandi award as the Best Writer for Doctor Chakravarthy.
Gollapudi’s immense contribution towards Telugu theatre includes literary works and plays like Rendu Rellu Aaru, Patita, Karuninchani Devatalu, Mahanatudu, Kaalam Venakku Tirigindi and Aasayaalaku Sankellu among more. Some of his noted films include Samsaram Oka Chadarangam, Swati Mutyam, Gudachari No.1, Aalaya Sikharam, Challenge, Murari, Leader and Kanche.
From Mahesh Babu, Nani and Sudheer Babu to Anasuya Bharadwaj and Anushka Shetty, several celebrities from the Telugu film fraternity expressed shock over Maruthi Rao’s death and offered their condolences on social media.
Mahesh Babu

Anushka Shetty

Nani

Manchu Manoj

Nikhil Siddharth

Gopichand

Srinivasa Reddy

Eesha Rebba

Pragya Jaiswal

Anasuya Bharadwaj

Allari Naresh

Kona Venkat

Sudheer Babu

Anil Ravipudi

Indraganti Mohan Krishna