(This article is authored by Alar)

In a shocking turn of events, veteran actor Sarath Babu, who has acted in more than 200 films in Tamil and Telugu industries, has been hospitalised in a critical condition due to multi-organ failure. The 71-year-old actor is on a ventilator at AIG Hospitals in Hyderabad, where he was shifted from Bengaluru on April 20.

Sarath Babu, who has won nine Nandi awards for his supporting roles, was suffering from sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. The infection affected his kidneys, lungs, liver and other vital organs, leading to their dysfunction.

The actor, who is known for his versatile acting skills and memorable performances in films like Annamalai, Nenjathai Killathe and Sivaji, was not keeping well for some time and had earlier been admitted to a hospital in Chennai. His fans and well-wishers have been praying for his speedy recovery and sending out supportive messages on social media.

Sarath Babu, whose real name is Satyam Babu Dixithulu, hails from Andhra Pradesh and had a dream of becoming a police officer. However, he could not pursue his ambition due to an eyesight problem. He joined the film industry with the support of his mother, leaving behind his father’s family business. He made his debut in 1973 with a Telugu film and went on to act in several languages, including Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.

He is one of the few actors who has shared screen space with major stars like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. He is also known for his work in television shows. He has been working in the film industry for almost 40 years, during which time he has garnered the adulation and respect of both his colleagues and his audience.