Popular Tamil and Telugu actor Vishweshwara Rao has passed away due to cancer on Tuesday. He was 64.

The actor reportedly was undergoing treatment for cancer in a private hospital in Chennai. Vishweshwara Rao failed to recuperate from his ill health and breathed his last evening.

Condolences poured in from members of the film fraternity.

Born in Andhra Pradesh, Rao has acted in over 300 films both in Tamil and Telugu. Before starting his acting career he was a director and writer. Apart from featuring in films, he also has acted in several television serials.

His notable roles include Laila's father role in Pithamagan, directed by Bala, starring Suriya, Vikram, Sangeetha Krish and Laila.

News of Vishweshwara Rao's death left cinema lovers in shock and disbelief as it comes close to the heels of demise of actors Seshu and Daniel Balaji.