HYDERABAD: Renowned Telugu film actor and former Union Minister of State for Defence and External Affairs Uppalapati Krishnam Raju breathed his last at a Hyderabad hospital at 3.25 am on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 83. Krishnam Raju is survived by his wife and three daughters. He was also the paternal uncle of actor Prabhas with whom he last shared screen space in Radhe Shyam. He won three Nandi Awards and has been honoured with the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2014.
The Tollywood veteran had been in and out of the hospital for the last one year and his family had hoped that he would get better. Raju had contracted diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, post cardiac stenting with chronic heart rhythm disorder and heart dysfunction. He underwent leg surgery and amputation for peripheral vascular disease last year. He had chronic kidney disease, chronic COPD and chronic bronchitis. He was admitted to a private hospital for post Covid-19 complications in August and has been diagnosed with severe pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungal organisms. He suffered rhythm disturbances during the treatment and it worsened his kidney function. He was put on ventilator support and couldn’t be revived.
The veteran actor, known to generations of movie buffs as the ‘Rebel Star’ for his portrayal of the intense, fiery performances in films like Katakataala Rudraiah, Rangoon Rowdy, Trishulam, Bobbili Brahmanna and Tandra Paparayudu, forayed into the showbiz with Chilaka Gorinka in 1966. However, the film bombed at the box office and a distressed Raju contemplated bidding adieu to the industry. But destiny had other plans and he attained fame with late Bapu’s directorial Bhakta Kannappa and went on to act in over 180 films. Incidentally, Krishnam Raju and actor Chiranjeevi hail from the same village, Mogaltur in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
Krishnam Raju’s popularity in the industry ran parallel to that of the stalwarts of the industry of that era, including NT Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Krishna. Raju’s vivaciousness was very much alive in his eyes and his unique body language and dialogue delivery have been lapped up by the audience.
In his five-decade career, Krishnam Raju portrayed a diverse range of roles and also donned the producer’s hat by launching his home production Gopi Krishna Movies. Although he was known for portraying ferocious roles, he was equally successful as a romantic hero in films like Krishnaveni, Amara Deepam and Jeevana Teeralu among others. He also acted in supporting roles and won laurels in films like Two Town Rowdy, Neti Siddhartha, Bava Bavamaridi, Palnati Pourusham and Yevade Subramanyam.
The entire Telugu film industry is mourning Krishnam Raju’s death and several celebrities have expressed their condolences to the bereaved family. Krishnam Raju’s mortal remains were kept for public viewing at his residence in Jubilee Hills. TRS working president KT Rama Rao was among those who visited the house and paid tributes to the late actor.
Actor to be accorded State funeral today
Expressing his deep sorrow at the demise of Krishnam Raju, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said Krishnam Raju ruled the hearts of the audience as the Rebel Star and proved his versatility with his unique acting abilities. His death has created a void that can’t be filled, he said. The CM also directed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to conduct the actor’s last rites with full State honours. Krishnam Raju’s funeral procession will begin at 11:30 am on Monday and his last rites will be performed at his Kanaka Mamidi farmhouse, near Chevella, Moinabad.
Telangana BJP leaders pay tributes
Hyderabad: BJP State president Bandi Sanjay on Sunday described Tollywood actor and former Union minister U Krishnam Raju as a leader who always fought for ‘dharma’ and used to encourage those who fought to protect it. After paying tributes to the mortal remains of Krishnam Raju, Sanjay recalled the actor serving as a Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. BJP MP Dr K Laxman remembered Krishnam Raju as a soft-spoken man who worked honestly for several years as a member of parliament and as a union minister. Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G Kishan Reddy described Krishnam Raju as a person who performed his duties conscientiously as a journalist, film actor, BJP leader, Union minister.