Potti Veerayya | |
---|---|
Birth name | Gattu Veerayya |
Born |
c. 1946 Phanigiri, Telangana, India |
Died | 25 April 2021 (aged 74 or 75) Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Spouse | Mallika (died in 2008 [1]) |
Children | 2 |
Potti Veerayya ( c. 1946 – 25 April 2021) was an Indian actor and comedian who predominantly acted in Telugu films. [2] A dwarf by birth, he acted in more than 500 films, mostly in Telugu along with Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam films. [3] [4] He acted in notable films like Aggi Veerudu (1969), Tata-Manavadu (1972), Radhamma Pelli (1974), Jaganmohini (1978), Yugandhar (1979), Gaja Donga (1981), Tarzan Sundari (1983). [5] [3]
Hailing from Phanigiri village of Suryapeta district, Telangana, he was born as Gattu Veerayya. [6] He was a dwarf by birth and stood just two feet. [5] [3] He was attracted to stage plays, drama and films since his childhood. [3] [4] Before commencing his career as a film actor, he was a theatre artiste. [5]
His passion for acting landed him in Madras where he met actor Sobhan Babu while working in a shop selling flowers for film sets. [3] [4] As Veerayya was a dwarf, Sobhan Babu advised him to meet directors like B. Vittalacharya for suitable roles in their films. [4] On his advice, Veerayya met Vittalacharya who cast him in the film Aggidora (1967) featuring Kanta Rao and N. T. Rama Rao. [7] Later, he acted in films like Aggi Veerudu (1969), Tata-Manavadu (1972), Radhamma Pelli (1974), Jaganmohini (1978), Yugandhar (1979), Gaja Donga (1981), Attagaari Pettanam (1981), Tarzan Sundari (1988). [3] [4]
His characters mostly used to be that of a clown or a small demon in folklore films. [2] [6] He has acted in more than 500 films in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam languages. [8] During an interview, he mentioned that Raja Babu and Dasari Narayana Rao had encouraged him in the initial phase of his career. [4]
In 2007, OneIndia reported that he was living in poverty. [2] Knowing his plight, Chiranjeevi had extended monetary help of ₹2 lakh. [6]
He had three daughters. [7] His youngest daughter Vijayadurga is an actor in the Telugu film industry. [9] His wife Mallika passed away in 2008. [4]
He died on 25 April 2021, aged 74 or 75, at a private hospital in Hyderabad due to heart-related ailments. [5] [3]
Potti Veerayya | |
---|---|
Birth name | Gattu Veerayya |
Born |
c. 1946 Phanigiri, Telangana, India |
Died | 25 April 2021 (aged 74 or 75) Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Spouse | Mallika (died in 2008 [1]) |
Children | 2 |
Potti Veerayya ( c. 1946 – 25 April 2021) was an Indian actor and comedian who predominantly acted in Telugu films. [2] A dwarf by birth, he acted in more than 500 films, mostly in Telugu along with Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam films. [3] [4] He acted in notable films like Aggi Veerudu (1969), Tata-Manavadu (1972), Radhamma Pelli (1974), Jaganmohini (1978), Yugandhar (1979), Gaja Donga (1981), Tarzan Sundari (1983). [5] [3]
Hailing from Phanigiri village of Suryapeta district, Telangana, he was born as Gattu Veerayya. [6] He was a dwarf by birth and stood just two feet. [5] [3] He was attracted to stage plays, drama and films since his childhood. [3] [4] Before commencing his career as a film actor, he was a theatre artiste. [5]
His passion for acting landed him in Madras where he met actor Sobhan Babu while working in a shop selling flowers for film sets. [3] [4] As Veerayya was a dwarf, Sobhan Babu advised him to meet directors like B. Vittalacharya for suitable roles in their films. [4] On his advice, Veerayya met Vittalacharya who cast him in the film Aggidora (1967) featuring Kanta Rao and N. T. Rama Rao. [7] Later, he acted in films like Aggi Veerudu (1969), Tata-Manavadu (1972), Radhamma Pelli (1974), Jaganmohini (1978), Yugandhar (1979), Gaja Donga (1981), Attagaari Pettanam (1981), Tarzan Sundari (1988). [3] [4]
His characters mostly used to be that of a clown or a small demon in folklore films. [2] [6] He has acted in more than 500 films in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam languages. [8] During an interview, he mentioned that Raja Babu and Dasari Narayana Rao had encouraged him in the initial phase of his career. [4]
In 2007, OneIndia reported that he was living in poverty. [2] Knowing his plight, Chiranjeevi had extended monetary help of ₹2 lakh. [6]
He had three daughters. [7] His youngest daughter Vijayadurga is an actor in the Telugu film industry. [9] His wife Mallika passed away in 2008. [4]
He died on 25 April 2021, aged 74 or 75, at a private hospital in Hyderabad due to heart-related ailments. [5] [3]