Sarath Babu
Babu in 2009
Born	Sathyam Babu Dixithulu (1951-07-31)31 July 1951 Amadalavalasa,Srikakulam district,Madras State, India
Died	22 May 2023(2023-05-22) (aged 71) Hyderabad,Telangana, India
Other names	sharat
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1973–2023
Spouses	Rama Prabha ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1988)​ Sneha Nambiar ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 2016)​

Sathyam Babu Dixithulu (31 July 1951 – 22 May 2023), known by his stage nameSarath Babu, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly inTamil andTelugu cinema. He appeared in more than 300 films, including inTamil,Telugu,Kannada, and a fewMalayalam andHindi films. He has received eight stateNandi Awards.

Babu was noted for his height, handsome looks, and charming smile throughout his acting career, which spanned for around five decades.^[1][2] He was known for his compelling screen presence, especially known for his camaraderie withRajinikanth in the films where the duo acted together.^[3] He had also shared screen space withKamal Haasan in many films.^[4]

Sarath Babu was born as Sathyam Babu Dixithulu on 31 July 1951.^[5][6] He was in a live-in relationship with Telugu actressRama Prabha during the 1980s. The duo separated themselves from the living together lifestyle in 1988, and Rama blamed Babu by making allegations that he had cheated her and snatched all of her properties inChennai. Babu denied the allegations but admitted to being in a relationship with Rama. However, he asserted that he had no intention of unlawfully claiming others' properties. Babu himself confirmed that he was much younger than Rama when he entered into a relationship with her.^[7] He was later married to Sneha Nambiar, daughter ofM.N. Nambiar.

Although Babu's father, a hotelier, wanted him to manage the family business, Babu aspired to become a police officer. However, he developed shortsightedness during his college years, which prevented him from joining the police force. Many people close to Babu felt he could enter the film industry as an actor, and though his father objected, his mother was supportive.^[8]

Babu entered the film industry in 1973 through the Telugu filmRama Rajyam. He made his Tamil film debut withPattina Pravesam (1977), directed byK. Balachander. He later became popular through the Tamil filmNizhal Nijamagiradhu (1978), which was also directed by Balachander. Balachander would eventually become Babu's guru in film career.^[9]

Babu's maiden collaboration with Rajinikanth,Mullum Malarum (1978), which was the directorial debut forMahendran, became an evergreen cult classic hit in Tamil cinema, and the film also marked an important milestone in Tamil cinema. His supporting role alongside Rajinikanth received critical acclaim, and his performance in the film's songSenthazham Poovil became the talk of the town across Tamil Nadu. He later developed a deep rooted friendship with Rajinikanth following the success ofMullum Malarum.^[10]

Babu's other collaborations with Rajinikanth, such asAnnamalai (1992) andMuthu (1995), also stamped his authority as a go-to supporting actor and was also praised for his onscreen chemistry with Rajinikanth, which was fueled by his characterization in those films. Babu played the role of a friend for Rajinikanth before becoming his foe inAnnamalai and for Babu's performance inAnnamalai as a villain, it stirred memes in social media even several years after the release of the film.^[11][12] He also tasted success in Kannada cinema withAmruthavarshini (1997).^[13]

Babu's last film acting role came inVasantha Mullai, which released in 2023.^[14] Films such asMalli Pelli andPor Thozhil were posthumous releases of him.^[15]

In April 2023, it was reported that Babu was suffering fromsepsis. He died from multiple organ failure on 22 May 2023, after being admitted in a ventilator at a private hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana.^[16] He was 71. Sarath Babu's final rites were performed inChennai.^[17][18]

Nandi Awards^[28]

• Best Supporting Actor –Seethakoka Chilaka (1981)
• Best Supporting Actor –O Bharya Katha (1988)
• Best Supporting Actor –Neerajanam (1989)

Other Awards

• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male) for the filmMalayan (2009).

• Sarath Babu atIMDb

• 1951 births
• 2023 deaths
• Deaths from multiple organ failure
• Indian male film actors
• Male actors in Tamil cinema
• Male actors in Kannada cinema
• Male actors in Telugu cinema
• Nandi Award winners
• Male actors from Andhra Pradesh
• People from Srikakulam district
• 20th-century Indian male actors
• 21st-century Indian male actors
• Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
• People from Uttarandhra

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