Popular Telugu cinema comedian Fish Venkat died on Friday, July 18 at the age of 53. Venkat, who was suffering from a kidney-related disease for a long time, was in dire need of a kidney transplant, which was estimated to cost ₹50 lakh. His daughter Shravanti had appealed to the film industry and the general public for help for the treatment2.
Struggle for treatment
Venkat Raj, who was called “Fish Venkat” due to his distinctive Telangana accent, was dependent on dialysis for the last nine months. When the condition worsened, he was admitted to the ICU, where doctors confirmed kidney failure. His daughter said that ₹50 lakh was needed for the treatment and she had appealed to many stars for help.
Rumors and truth of help
Shravanti had claimed that actor Prabhas’ team had assured help. However, the family later clarified that the call was fake, and they did not receive any financial assistance4. At the same time, actor Pawan Kalyan had given assistance of ₹2 lakh.
Fish Venkat’s Film Journey
Fish Venkat started his career in the 1990s and has worked in more than 100 Telugu films. His comic and villainous roles were well received by the audience. His appearance in films like ‘Gabbar Singh, DJ Tillu, Bunny, Adhurs’ made him a popular co-star5.