
Telugu actor Fish Venkat, best known for his role in the film DJ Tillu, passed away on July 18 at the age of 53. He had been suffering from serious kidney problems for the past few months and was receiving dialysis treatment. Sadly, his condition worsened, and despite being admitted to the ICU and put on a ventilator, he could not be saved.
Read more: Prabhas Donates ₹50 Lakh for Actor Fish Venkat’s Kidney Transplant as He Battles for Life in ICU

Doctors had advised an immediate kidney transplant, but a suitable donor could not be found in time. Due to the delay and limited medical options, he died from kidney failure in a hospital in Hyderabad.
Fish Venkat, whose real name was Venkat Raj, got the nickname “Fish” from a funny scene involving a fish market. He was well-known for playing comedy and villain roles in many Telugu movies like Gabbar Singh, Adhurs, Kushi, Bunny, Dhee, Mirapakay, and DJ Tillu. His latest role was in the Aha thriller film “Coffee with a Killer.”
His acting journey began with the help of the late director Dasari Narayana Rao, who gave him a break in the movie Sammakka Sarakka. Over the years, Fish Venkat acted in over 100 films, earning love for his comic timing and supporting roles.
During his illness, his family struggled financially to pay for his treatment. His daughter Shravanthi even made a public request for help, stating they needed around ₹50 lakh for his transplant, which they couldn’t afford.
Tamil Director Velu Prabhakaran Also Dies at 68
On the same day, famous Tamil director and actor Velu Prabhakaran also passed away at the age of 68 in a hospital in Chennai. He had been unwell for a long time. Velu was known for directing films like Nalaya Manithan, Puratchikkaaran, Asuran, and Rajali.