Subbaraya Sarma was born on January 3rd 1947 in Vijayawada to a magazine publisher. He started acting when in fourth standard and was immensely inspired by then super hit Maya Bazar. He used to be bench mates with Sutti Veera Bhadra Rao, Madhavapeddi Ramesh and classmate of Malladi Venkata Krishna murthy, the well known writer.