Indian actor and comedian (1946–2021)
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 (1983).[5][3]
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
External links