Famous South Indian film producer RR Venkat, who produced super hit films like Kick, Businessman, Mirapakay, died on Monday morning at Hyderabad’s AIG Hospitals due to prolonged illness and kidney failure, reported Pinkvilla. Venkat is a popular name in the Tollywood industry and has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. 

Venkat was the owner of the distribution house RR Movie Makers. He also took up a Hollywood venture in the year 2012 English movie ‘Divorce Invitation’ that stated Jonathan Bennett. 

Among several Telugu films, RR Venkat was also one of the producers for the award-winning romantic thriller Hindi film, Ek Hasina Thi. 

Soon after the news of Venkat’s demise broke, personalities from the Tollywood industries have started expressing their condolences on social media.

Among the first few were, Telugu film director Gopichand Malineni. He tweeted, “Rest in peace #RRVenkat Garu ..my debut film Donseenu producer ..very passionate film-maker, encouraged me a lot ..my deepest condolences to his family.”

BJP’s MLA from the state of Andhra Pradesh also shared her respect for the late producer on her Twitter handle.

“Shocked & grieved to hear the news of sudden demise of our good friend, Movie Producer & Distributor, Eminent social Worker, Dr. J Venkat Phanindra Reddy (popularly known as RR Venkat). He was a very humble personality & passionate human being. May his soul attain Sadgati,” she wrote

Tollywood director Sreenu Vaitla also paid his condolences for Venkat on Twitter. 

“Sad to know about RR Venkat garu’s demise.Met him a couple of times and found him to be very passionate about movies. He was a man of guts and ambition. Praying for the strength to his family,” Vaitla wrote.

  “Extremely saddened to hear about the demise of senior producer #RRVenkat Garu. My deepest condolences to the family” wrote another directed Surender Reddy.

RR Venkat was known for his good work and compassion in the industry. The producer also received an honorary doctorate from the Open International University for Complementary Medicines at the University of Colombo for his contributions as a social worker in 2011.