In the late seventies to early nineties, he appeared as a villain opposite actors including Sivakumar, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.
Srikanth along with Vietnam Veedu Sundaram, Nagesh, Vaali and Vennira Aadai Moorthy used to stay at the area near T. Nagar Club House near the Shiva Vishnu Temple.
[4] N. C. Chakravarthy, who was an assistant director to C. V. Sridhar, was a regular Table Tennis player at the T. Nagar Club House[5] and approached Srikanth to give auditions at Chitralaya studios for the new Tamil film Vennira Aadai.
After success of the film Selva Magal in 1967, directors started approaching him for even villain roles and some of his successful films in villainous roles since 1968 include Thanga Gopuram, Gnana Oli, Gomatha Engal Kulamatha, Vairam, Vasantha Maligai, Anbu Thangai and Vani Rani.
Despite the success in films, he and Sowcar Janaki were part of drama troupes giving live performances in the evening or on weekends.
He was part of many comedy films throughout his career like Ethir Neechal, Bama Vijayam, Yaarukku Mappilai Yaro, Kasethan Kadavulada, Kasi Yathirai, Kai Naraya Kaasu, Athaiya Mamiya and Ilaya Thalaimurai.
But, at the peak of his career as the villain, Srikanth surprised critics and audience alike by returning to romantic image in the 1974 film Raja Nagam, with the song "Devam Vedhamum" gaining immense popularity.
He also worked with his juniors Kamal Haasan, Sivakumar and Rajinikanth after 1977, with himself as the main villain like in films Pennai Solli Kutrram Illai, Sadhurangam, Bairavi, Sattam En Kayil, Neeya, Uyaranthvangal, etc.
He also starred in a weekly television series called Mangai opposite K. R. Vijaya in 1998 and later he did serial Akshaya, which was broadcast on Sun TV.