Former union minister Krishnam Raju passes away at 83

New Delhi, Sept 11: Uppalapati Krishnam Raju, a former Union Minister and veteran actor, passed away on Sunday morning while receiving treatment at a local private hospital, according to sources.

He has three little girls and is 83 years of age and was the uncle of Baahubali star Prabhas. As per medical clinic specialists, he had post-Coronavirus sicknesses. On August 5, he was admitted to the emergency clinic.

In the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration, he held the position of Union Minister of State and was a two-time member of the Lok Sabha.

Raju, otherwise called “Agitator Star,” assumed defiant parts in excess of 180 films and set new guidelines for the class. In 1966, he made his true to life debut in the Telugu film “Chilaka Gorinka.” For the various jobs he played in motion pictures, he got various distinctions and prizes.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao expressed his condolences on his death.

“The death of Krishnam Raju, who acted as a hero in many films during a 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,” said KCR.

“Krishnam Raju served the people of the country as a member of the Lok Sabha, as a Union Minister and through the field of political administration, is sad,” he adde

Previous Association Clergyman and veteran entertainer Uppalapati Krishnam Raju died on Sunday while going through treatment at a confidential emergency clinic here, clinic sources said.

He was 83 and is survived by wife and three daughters.

Raju was uncle of ‘Baahubali’ star Prabhas.

Emergency clinic sources said he was experiencing post-Coronavirus illnesses. He was taken to the emergency clinic on August 5.

He was a two-time Lok Sabha member and served as Union Minister of state in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

Known as ‘Dissident Star’, Raju acted in more than 180 movies and stayed a trailblazer with his defiant characters. He began his movie profession with Telugu film ‘Chilaka Gorinka’ in 1966.

He won several awards and accolades for various roles he portrayed in films.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in a statement condoled his death.

KCR said that the death of Krishnam Raju, who acted as a hero in many films during a 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.

He further said Krishnam Raju served individuals of the country as an individual from the Lok Sabha, as an Association Priest and through the field of political organisation, is miserable.

Condoling the former minister’s death, Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a statement said the death of Krishnam Raju is painful and a big loss to the BJP, Telugu film industry and people.

The AIG Medical clinics where he was going through therapy, in a proclamation, said he was conceded for post Coronavirus difficulties on August 5. He was determined to have serious pneumonia brought about by multidrug safe microorganisms and parasitic creatures, extreme infective bronchitis.

He had heart rhythm disturbances during the hospital stay and worsening of kidney function. He has been on ventilator support since admission.

He was on appropriate treatment and close monitoring was done.

“He succumbed to severe pneumonia and its complications on 11.9.22 and expired at 3.16 am today due to cardiac arrest,” it said.

The AIG Clinics where he was going through treatment, in an explanation, said he was conceded for post Coronavirus confusions on August 5. He was determined to have extreme pneumonia brought about by multidrug safe microbes and contagious creatures, serious infective bronchitis.

Popular Tollywood actor of yesteryears, former Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju died of a brief illness at a private hospital in Hyderabad in the early hours of Sunday, his family members said. He was 82.

He is made due by his significant other Shyamala Devi and three girls – Praseedi, Prakeerthi and Pradeepthi. Well known legend and ‘Baahubali’ popularity Prabhas is Raju’s nephew.

Born in a royal family of Vizianagaram kings on January 20, 1940 at Mogalturu village of Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district, Krishnam Raju worked as a journalist for a few days after his graduation and later entered the Telugu film industry in 1966. Initially, he played villain roles, before turning into a hero.

Krishnam Raju won a few honours including Nandi grants for the best legend from Andhra Pradesh government in 1997 and 1984, the Filmfare grant for the best entertainer in 1986 and Filmfare LifeTime Accomplishment grant in 2006.

Krishnam Raju entered politics in 1992 by joining the Congress party and contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Narasapuram parliamentary constituency, but lost the election. In 1998, he joined the BJP and won the Lok Sabha elections from Kakinada with a huge margin of over 1,65,000 votes.

He was in the warning panels of the Data and Broadcasting and Business and Industry services during 1998-99. He was reappointed to the thirteenth Lok Sabha in 1999 and filled in as a party whip in the Lower House.

He was inducted into the Union council of ministers by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Union minister of state for external affairs in September 2000. Later, he also held portfolios of the Union ministry of state for defence and consumer affairs, food and public distribution. In 2000, Krishnam Raju shot into headlines by introducing the Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Bill, 2000.

In 2009, Krishnam Raju joined Praja Rajyam Party led by entertainer Chiranjeevi. In any case, he emerged from the party later and got back to the BJP.

Telangana boss priest K Chandrasekhar Rao mourned the passing of Krishnam Raju and passed his ardent sympathies on to the deprived family.