(This article is authored by Alar) 

The film industry is mourning the loss of Sarath Babu, a versatile actor who acted in over 200 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. He passed away on Monday at AIG Hospital in Hyderabad, where he was undergoing treatment for sepsis and multiple organ failure. He was 71 years old.

Sarath Babu was known for his roles as a supporting actor, often playing the friend, brother or father of the lead characters. He made his debut in 1973 with a Telugu film and rose to fame with K Balachander’s Nizhal Nijamagiradhu (1977) starring Kamal Haasan. He went on to act with many leading stars of South Indian cinema, such as Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal and Mammootty.

Some of his memorable films include Annamalai (1992), Muthu (1995), Sivaji (2007) and Vasantha Mullai (2023), his last film. He also acted in several television serials and won many awards for his performances. He was admired for his dignified screen presence and his ability to portray different emotions.

Sarath Babu’s death came as a shock to his fans and colleagues, who expressed their condolences on social media.  Rajinikanth, who shared screen space with Sarath Babu in many films, also paid tribute to him and said that he was a great human being. Sarath Babu is survived by his wife Snehalatha Dixit and four children. 

Veteran Actor Sarath Babu who worked in several films including Telugu and Tamil passed away today in AIG hospital.

— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023