Popular actor Fish Venkat, whose real name is Venkat Raj, passed away on 18 July 2025. The actor, who was known for his unique Telangana accent and perfect comic timing, died after suffering from multiple organ failure for many months. He had been having dialysis and was recently on a ventilator as his body was failing.
Lost battle to Kidney failure
As per a Gulte report, Venkat was suffering from severe kidney and liver failure and, in the last few weeks, his health deteriorated rapidly. As the matter got serious, the family was looking for financial aid for proper medical care. His daughter Shravanthi made an appeal and said that they were looking for financial assistance to pay the Rs 50 lakh for a kidney transplant that he needed for his survival.
Rumour dismissed as scam
Despite social media claiming support from actor Prabhas, the family said those incorrect reports were just a scam. There was legitimate financial help that came from stars like Pawan Kalyan, Vishwak Sen, and a minister of the Telangana government. Unfortunately, in spite of great work from the medical team and emotional pleas from the family, there was no matching kidney donor in time.With a career spanning over two decades, he was known for his comic and sidekick roles, often playing characters with an authentic Telangana flair. His performances in films such as ‘Gabbar Singh’, ‘Adhurs’, ‘DJ Tillu’, and many others made him a recognisable and cherished face among moviegoers.Venkat was nicknamed “Fish Venkat” because of a comedic scene that referenced a fish market. This represented a moment in time that became almost iconic for Venkat’s name. He was loved for his humour in his acting, which brought a cultural authenticity to his roles.
