Krishnam Raju: Rebel Star, Politician dies at 83

Hyderabad: Rebel Star Krishnam Raju passed away at the age of 83 in a private hospital in Hyderabad. He succumbed to severe pneumonia and its complications on 11 September and expired at 3.16 am with cardiac arrest.

According to the doctors, he was suffering from 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 lung disease- COPD, and chronic bronchitis on nebulized inhalers.

He was admitted for post-COVID complications on 5 September. He had been diagnosed with severe pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungal organisms, and severe infective bronchitis. He had heart rhythm disturbances during the hospital stay and worsening kidney function. He was managed on ventilator support since admission. He has been managed by a team of experts from departments of pulmonology, critical care, cardiology, nephrology, infectious diseases, and vascular surgery. He was on appropriate treatment and close monitoring was done.

Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju, native of Mogalthur, West Godavari district is an actor and worked as a journalist for the Andhra Ratna. Fond of cameras, he was awarded the Second Best Photographer at the state level.

Rebel Star:

Popularly called 'Rebel Star', he acted in more than 180 films. His first film as an actor was 'Chilaka Gorinka' in 1966. Some of his best movies are Jeevana Taranagalu. Krishnaveni, Bhakta Kanappa, Amara Deepam, Manavoori Pandavulu, Rangoon Rowdy, Bobbilli Brahamanna, Thandra Paparayudu. The rebel star's last movie was Radhe Syam with Prabhas. Krishnam Raju was awarded the Rashtrapati award for the 'Mana Voori Pandavulu movie. He got a lifetime achievement award in 2006, and a Raghupathi Venkayya award in 2014. Krishnam Raju became a household name in Telugu homes with movies 'Bhakta Kannappa' and 'Tandra Paparayudu'. He also produced several movies under his 'Gopi Krishna Movies banner.

Political career:

Not just an actor, Krishnam Raju has a good and active political career in Andhra Pradesh. He joined in Congress party in 1991. Invited by BJP, he joined BJP in 1998 and won as MP from Kakinada and Narsapur constituencies. During 1999 by-elections, he won as MP for Narsapur. Krishnam Raju was the first actor who worked as a Union Minister under the cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1999-2004. Later in 2009, he joined Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam party. In 2009, general elections, he contested as MP from the Rajahmundry constituency and lost.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has condoled the death of popular film actor. CM KCR said that the death of Krishnan Raju, who acted as a hero in many films during his fifty-year career and won the hearts of moviegoers as a 'rebel star' with his unique acting style, is a great loss for the Telugu silver screen.

Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan has expressed deep shock and anguish at the demise of Telugu film actor and former Union Minister Krishnan Raju. The Governor said that in his demise, the Telugu film industry lost a legendary actor, who made an indelible mark of his own with his remarkable acting style and skills. As an M.P and Union Minister, he strived She said, his contribution to Indian cinema in general and Telugu cinema in particular as the Rebel Star will be remembered forever.