Renowned Tollywood film director Vijaya Bapineedu, who gave blockbuster films like Khaidi No. 786, Gang Leader and Maga Maharaju with superstar Chiranjeevi, passed away at his residence in Hyderabad on Tuesday. He was 83 years old.

Born in a small village near Eluru in Andhra Pradesh, he was a graduate and had worked as an editor of an entertainment magazine before venturing into Tollywood to direct films. His first movie as a director was Dabbu Dabbu Dabbu in 1981.