Fish Venkat passes away after prolonged illness

Mangilampally Venkatesh, popularly known as Fish Venkat, passed away on Friday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Hyderabad. He had been battling kidney-related ailments for several years and was receiving dialysis regularly. Recently, his family had even appealed to the film industry for financial support during his treatment.

He breathed his last on Friday evening at the age of 53. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Born and raised in Hyderabad, Venkatesh earned the nickname Fish Venkat as he used to sell fish at a market in Musheerabad before entering the film industry. His foray into cinema began through his close association with actor Srihari. It was director V.V. Vinayak who introduced him to Telugu cinema and gave him his breakthrough with the film “Aadi.”

Fish Venkat went on to appear in nearly 90 films, often playing comic and villainous roles, usually speaking in the Telangana dialect. Some of his notable films include Aadi, Bunny, Dil, and more recently, DJ Tillu.

He carved a unique space for himself with his distinct screen presence and comedic timing, leaving behind a memorable legacy in Telugu cinema.