Veteran Tollywood actor UV Krishnam Raju passes away at 82
Noted veteran Tollywood actor UV Krishnam Raju is no more. He passed away in the early hours of Sunday (September 11) at a private hospital in Hyderabad, reportedly after a battle with a brief illness. He was 82. Also a noteworthy politician, Raju was part of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Union Council of Ministers from 2000-2004. May he rest in peace.
Raju was suffering from post COVID-19 ailments
Hyderabad's AIG Hospitals—where Raju was undergoing treatment—said the veteran actor was suffering from post-COVID-19 ailments and was hospitalized since August 5. He was reportedly on ventilator support after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria and fungal organisms and severe infective bronchitis. "He succumbed to severe pneumonia and its complications...expired at 3:16 am [Sunday] due to cardiac arrest," the hospital stated.
Several actors and political dignitaries expressed condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he is "saddened by the passing away of Shri UV Krishnam Raju Garu." Actor Jr. NTR extended his "heartfelt condolences to the family." Calling him one of the "greatest and most loved actors," Sudheer Babu called his demise "an irreversible loss," while Mahesh Babu termed it "a sad day." Several fans have posted heartfelt condolence messages on Twitter.
Raju had a sprawling career, worked in over 180 movies!
Raju debuted with Chilaka Gorinka (1966) and earned the moniker "Rebel Star" for portraying many rebellious characters. Among numerous other accolades, he was also known for being the recipient of the inaugural Nandi Award for Best Actor. He had the distinction of working in 183 films. Some of his most notable works include Rangoon Rowdy, Billa, Bhakta Kannappa, and most recently, Radhe Shyam.
A look at Raju's illustrious political career
Raju hailed from Mogalthur, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. He joined Congress in 1992 and unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections. In 1998, he switched to the BJP, contested from the Kakinada parliamentary constituency, and triumphed with a sensational majority. Later, he served as a Minister of State for various Union ministries. He contested the 2009 LS polls from Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party but lost.
Raju initially worked as journalist, later entered showbiz
Raju is survived by his wife Shyamala Devi and three daughters—Praseedi, Prakeerthi, and Pradeepthi. Actor Prabhas is his nephew. Raju initially worked as a journalist before foraying into the Telugu film industry in 1966. He made a mark as an antagonist in several films and later transitioned to positive roles. In addition to acting and politics, he was also known for his philanthropy.
