Potti Veerayya

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 (1988).[5][3]

Potti Veerayya
Birth nameGattu Veerayya
Bornc. 1946
Phanigiri, Telangana, India
Died25 April 2021 (aged 74 or 75)
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
NationalityIndian
SpouseMallika (died in 2008[1])
Children2

Early life

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]

Film career

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]

Personal life

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]

Death

He died on 25 April 2021, aged 74 or 75, at a private hospital in Hyderabad due to heart-related ailments.[5][3]

Filmography

References
  1. "Potti Veerayya's wife is no more". Andhra Studio. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. "Unsung multi-lingual actor in penury". Oneindia. 25 January 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  3. "Potti Veerayya no more". The Hindu. 25 April 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  4. "Veteran Telugu actor Potti Veerayya passes away in Hyderabad". The Times of India. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  5. Ranjith Kumar, Gabbeta (26 April 2021). "Telugu comedy actor Potti Veerayya passes away". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  6. "Veteran actor Potti Veerayya passes away". Telangana Today. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  7. "Telugu actor Potti Veerayya passes away". Cinema Express. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  8. "300 film veteran almost in poverty". Oneindia. 29 January 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  9. "Veteran actor Potti Veerayya no more". The New Indian Express. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2022.


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