Rao Gopal Rao (14 January 1937 – 13 August 1994) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works in

Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of Film, motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Based in Film N ...

and

Telugu theatre Telugu theatre is Indian theatre in the Telugu language, based in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Gurajada Apparao wrote the play, '' Kanyasulkam'' in 1892, which is often considered the greatest play in the Telugu language.20th Ce ...

. In a film career spanning more than 25 years, Rao starred in over 400 feature films in a variety of characters. He was known for his gruesome portrayals of antagonist roles with a touch of humor. He was presented with

Kala Prapoorna Andhra University is a public university located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established in 1926. It is graded as an A++ institution by NAAC receiving a score of 3.74 on a scale of 4. History King Vikram Deo Verma, the Ma ...

in 1990 by

Andhra University Andhra University is a public university located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established in 1926. It is graded as an A++ institution by NAAC receiving a score of 3.74 on a scale of 4. History King Vikram Deo Verma, the Mah ...

and was honored with "Natavirat" and "Chittoor Nagayya Award" in 1987. Rao was known for his villainous roles in works such as ''

Mutyala Muggu ''Mutyala Muggu'' () is a 1975 Indian Telugu-language drama film adaptation of Uttara Ramayana from the writer-director duo of Ramana and Bapu. The film stars Sangeeta, Sreedhar, Kanta Rao, Rao Gopal Rao, Mukkamala, Allu Ramalingaiah an ...

'' (1975), ''

Bhakta Kannappa ''Bhakta Kannappa'' () is a 1976 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Bapu and produced by U. Suryanarayana Raju under the Gopikrishna Movies banner. The film was inspired by the 1954 Kannada movie '' Bedara Kannappa'' which was based on ...

'' (1976), '' Gorantha Deepam'' (1978), ''

Manavoori Pandavulu ''Manavoori Pandavulu'' () is a 1978 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Bapu and written by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana, dealing with the struggle against the feudal system in their own unique way. The film is remake of Kannada film '' Paduva ...

'' (1978), ''Kaliyuga Ravanasurudu'' (1980), ''

Tyagayya Sadguru Tyagaraja Swami ( Telugu: సద్గురు త్యాగరాజ స్వామి; 4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Tyagayya, and in full as Kakarla Tyagabrahmam ( Telugu: కాకర్ల త్యాగబ ...

'' (1981), '' Ooruki Monagadu'' (1981), ''

Gudachari No.1 ''Gudachari No.1'' is a 1983 Telugu-language spy film written and directed by Kodi Ramakrishna. Produced by T. Trivikrama Rao, the film stars Chiranjeevi and Radhika in pivotal roles. Plot The film deals with Vijay, a C.B.I-Agent on a special ...

'' (1983), '' Abhilasha'' (1983), '' Khaidi'' (1983), '' Challenge'' (1984), ''Jaakii'' (1985), ''

Bullet A bullet is a kinetic projectile, a component of firearm ammunition that is shot from a gun barrel. They are made of a variety of materials, such as copper, lead, steel, polymer, rubber and even wax; and are made in various shapes and constru ...

'' (1985), ''

Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu ''Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu'' () is a 1989 Indian Telugu-language masala film co-written and directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy. Produced by Allu Aravind, the film stars Chiranjeevi, Vanisri, and Vijayashanti. The film marks Vanisri's comeba ...

'' (1989), ''

Lorry Driver A truck driver (commonly referred to as a trucker, teamster or driver in the United States and Canada; a truckie in Australia and New Zealand; an HGV driver in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the European Union, a lorry driver, or driver in ...

'' (1990), ''

Kondaveeti Donga ''Kondaveeti Donga'' () is a 1990 Indian Telugu-language vigilante action drama film directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy. The film stars Chiranjeevi, Vijayashanti, and Radha in lead roles. It was released on 9 April 1990 and became notable for b ...

'' (1990), and ''

Gang Leader A gang is a social group, group or secret society, society of associates, friends, or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over Wiktionary:territory#Noun, territory in a ...

'' (1991).

Early life

Rao started his career in theatre, with his own company, Associated Amateur Drama Company, and did many plays under the banner. S. V. Ranga Rao saw his plays and recommended him to

Gutta Ramineedu G. Ramineedu (Telugu: గుత్తా రామినీడు) (5 October 1927 – 29 April 2009) was an Indian film director who worked in Telugu cinema. He is known for films such as '' Maa Inti Mahalakshmi'' (1959), '' Chivaraku Migiledi' ...

, who was making ''Bhakta Potana'' (1966). He worked as an assistant director for this film and served as an assistant director in other films, including ''Bangaru Sankellu'' and ''Mooga Prema''.

Politics

Rao was appointed to the

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council ( Telugu: ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ శాసన మండలి, ISO: ''Āndhra Pradēś Śāsana Maṇḍali'') is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state, Andhra Pra ...

in 1984-85 and

Indian Parliament The Parliament of India (ISO: ) is the supreme legislative body of the Government of the Republic of India. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The President o ...

N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, film editor, philanthropist, and politician who served as the Chief Minister o ...

, the then chief minister of

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

. He was a member of

Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is the upper house of the Parliament of India and functions as the institutional representation of India’s federal units — the states and union territories.https://rajyasabha.nic.in/ It is a key component o ...

from 3 April 1986 until 2 April 1992.

Death

Rao died on 13 August 1994, aged 57. The film ''Prema & Co'' was released after his death. His son,

Rao Ramesh Rao Ramesh (born 25 May 1968) is an Indian actor who works primarily in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre, theatre, and television apart from some Tamil films. He is the son of veteran actor Rao Gopal Rao. Rao Ramesh initially appeared in ''Seema ...

, is a Telugu film actor.

Filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Rao Gopal 1937 births 1994 deaths Telugu male actors Telugu comedians Indian male stage actors Indian male film actors Telugu film producers Rajya Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh MLAs 1983–1985 Place of death missing People from Kakinada Actors from East Godavari district Male actors from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian male actors Indian actor-politicians Telugu Desam Party politicians Telugu politicians Film producers from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian comedians