Actor Sarath Babu passes away at 71

According to reports, Sarath Babu was first admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru last month due to ill health and was shifted to Hyderabad after his condition deteriorated.

Born as Sathyam Babu Dixithulu in 1951, Sarath Babu kickstarted his career as an actor with the 1973 Telugu film Rama Rajyam. The actor’s ticket to stardom was K Balachander’s Pattina Pravesam (1977).

Sarath Babu's talent and versatility as an actor allowed him to work alongside some of the industry's biggest stars. Acting alongside actors like Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, N.T. Rama Rao, Jaishankar, and Chiranjeevi in films such as "Nizhal Nijamagiradhu," "Mullum Malarum," "Srungara Ramudu," "Mudi Sooda Mannan," and "Idi Katha Kaadu" respectively, showcased his ability to share the screen with established and talented actors. His performances in these films contributed to his success and established him as a respected actor in both Tamil and Telugu cinema.

Sarath Babu's talent and popularity extended beyond Tamil and Telugu cinema. He ventured into Malayalam films and delivered notable performances in movies like "Sarapancharam" (1979) directed by Hariharan, "Dhanya" (1981) directed by Fazil, and "Poonilamazha" (1997) directed by Sunil. In addition, he made his mark in Kannada cinema with films such as "Ranachandi" (1991) directed by G K Mudduraj, "Amrutha Varshini" (1997) directed by Dinesh Baboo, "Hrudaya Hrudaya" (1999) directed by M S Rajashekar, and "Neela" (2001) directed by T S Nagabharana. Sarath Babu's versatility as an actor allowed him to explore different film industries and leave a lasting impact on audiences across multiple languages.

Sarath Babu and Rajinikanth shared a strong camaraderie and have worked together in several memorable films. They collaborated in movies like "Annaamalai" (1992) directed by Suresh Krissna, "Muthu" (1995) directed by K S Ravikumar, and "Velaikkaran" (1987) directed by S P Muthuraman. These films showcased their on-screen chemistry and contributed to their individual successes. Sarath Babu's association with Rajinikanth added value to these films and further strengthened their bond as co-stars.