Kantha Rao was renowned in Telugu cinema for his roles in folklore and mythological characters. He gained fame for his sword-fighting skills. He made his debut with the film "Nirdoshi." Kanta Rao was a contemporary of Ramarao and Nageswararao and enjoyed equal recognition. He acted in over 400 films and was celebrated for playing the role of Narada in mythological stories. Kanta Rao also gained popularity for his roles as Krishna and Arjuna. He starred in successful films like "Chikkadu Dorakadu" , "Ranabheri" , "Gandara Gandadu" , "Mangalyam" , "Rakta Sambandham" , "Nartanasala", and "Pandava Vanavasam."