Veteran Telugu actor and comedian Fish Venkat is currently battling severe kidney failure and is in critical condition in the ICU, requiring an urgent kidney transplant. News initially surfaced that Pan-Indian star Prabhas had offered financial assistance of ₹50 lakh for the transplant. However, recent reports indicate that Fish Venkat's family has denied receiving any such aid from Prabhas, dismissing the news as fake.
Venkat's daughter, Sravanthi, had earlier stated that Prabhas' team contacted them and assured financial support once the transplant was scheduled. She mentioned the estimated cost of the transplant was around ₹50 lakh, a sum the family was struggling to gather. Sravanthi also made a public appeal to other Tollywood stars like Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Allu Arjun, and Jr. NTR, with whom her father had worked, to help find a kidney donor. She expressed her disappointment in the lack of response from industry colleagues, emphasizing her father's long-standing career and relationships with top stars.
Conflicting reports emerged when Fish Venkat's wife and daughter revealed that they had not received any funds from Prabhas. They stated that someone claiming to be Prabhas' assistant had called and offered the money, but the family realized it was likely a prank when they tried to call the number back and it was unavailable. Prabhas' team has also clarified that no one from their team had contacted Fish Venkat's family regarding financial assistance.
Despite the confusion surrounding Prabhas' alleged contribution, other members of the Telugu film industry have stepped forward to help. Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan reportedly extended ₹2 lakh in aid. Additionally, young actor Vishwak Sen donated ₹2 lakh to support Fish Venkat's treatment.
The primary challenge for Fish Venkat's family remains finding a suitable kidney donor. Due to certain complications, no family member is eligible to donate a kidney. Sravanthi has continued to appeal to the public and the film industry to assist in their search for a donor.
Fish Venkat, whose real name is Venkat Raj, has been a prominent figure in Telugu cinema for many years. Known for his impeccable comic timing and roles in numerous hit films, including Bunny, Adhurs, Dhee, Gabbar Singh, and DJ Tillu, he has become a household name. He is known for his unique Telangana accent and has also played villainous roles.
