Telugu actor Fish Venkat, 53, passes away due to kidney failure

The Telugu film industry is mourning the loss of popular comedian and character actor Fish Venkat, who passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the age of 53. The actor had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications at a hospital in Hyderabad, where he was placed under intensive care.

Born as Venkat Raj, he gained the nickname Fish Venkat after a scene from one of his early movies where his portrayal of a market seller became widely recognized. Over the years, he built a strong presence in the Telugu film industry, known for his comic timing, unique Telangana accent and lively screen presence. With more than one hundred films to his credit, he earned a loyal following among moviegoers.

In the last few weeks, the actor’s health had declined rapidly due to kidney failure. He was admitted to the hospital and placed on dialysis. Doctors had recommended a kidney transplant, but his condition worsened before a suitable donor could be found.

His daughter Shravanthi had publicly appealed for financial help, as the cost of treatment and transplant was far beyond the family’s reach. A few actors, including Pawan Kalyan and Vishwak Sen, came forward to support the family with donations, though it was not enough to stop the worsening health crisis.

Earlier, speaking to One India, Shravanthi had opened up on receiving help from Prabhas for her father's treatment. ''Daddy isn’t well at all. He is very serious and in the ICU. He needs a kidney transplant. It will cost us at least ₹50 lakh. Prabhas’ assistant called us and offered financial assistance. They asked us to inform them when his transplant happens to cover the cost,'' Shravanthi said.

However, these reports were denied by the late actor's family member. Speaking to Suman TV, they said, ''Actually, nothing like that happened. We have been answering every call we get to see if anyone can help us. Some unknown person called us pretending to be Prabhas Anna’s assistant. We found out after that it was a fake call. He doesn’t even know something like this is happening. We have not received any financial help yet.''

Some unknown person called us pretending to be Prabhas Anna’s assistant. We found out after that it was a fake call. He doesn’t even know something like this is happening. We have not received any financial help yet

- Fish Venkat's family member

Fish Venkat is survived by his wife Suvarna and two daughters. His passing has left fans and colleagues deeply saddened. Many from the film fraternity took to social media to remember him as a kind-hearted person who brought joy to many through his performances. His work will continue to be remembered as a special part of Telugu cinema.