Veteran Telugu films’ star and former Union minister Krishnam Raju, known as Tollywood’s “rebel star”, passed away early yesterday morning (11th September) at AIG Hospital in Hyderabad following chronic illness. He was 83. He is survived by his wife and three daughters. He was cremated today (12th) in Hyderabad. Police personnel presented a gun salute and opened fire in the air as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
Union minister for culture G. Kishan Reddy, Telangana minister K.T. Rama Rao, stars Jagapathi Babu, Chiranjeevi, Krishna, Murali Mohan, Mohan Babu, Mahesh Babu, Jr. NTR, Anushka Shetty, Sai Dharam Tej and Vijay Deverakonda were among those who paid their last respects to Raju on 11th and 12th. Actor Prabhas is the nephew of U.V. Krishnam Raju. He was seen crying inconsolably at the funeral today.
Krishnam Raju had developed acute post-COVID complications, including severe pneumonia.
He was a force to reckon with in Telugu cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. He earned the tag of “rebel star” for his role in the 1978 blockbuster, Katakatala Rudraiah. He had acted in more than 180 films and had won the coveted Nandi award thrice during his chequered career. He debuted with Chilaka Gorinka in 1966. He dabbled into politics and became a minister of state during the time Atal Behari Vajpayee was the prime minister.