Rebellious, versatile and stylish: Krishnam Raju leaves behind a glorious legacy

Veteran actor and producer Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju, better known as ‘Rebel Star’ Krishnam Raju, passed away on Sunday morning due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 82. Raju was undergoing treatment for pneumonia and other ailments at a private hospital in Gachibowli, where he breathed his last in the early hours of Sunday. He is survived by wife, Syamala Devi, and three daughters.He was the uncle of Tollywood superstar Prabhas, with whom he shared a close equation.
Born in Mogalturu in West Godavari in 1940, Krishnam Raju entered the Telugu film industry with the 1966 film . In a glorious acting career spanning six decades, Raju went on to feature in more than 185 movies, before taking up production and venturing into politics. Some of his hit films include and , among others.

A trendsetter in the 60s
Although he started his career as a hero, Krishnam Raju decided to experiment and donned the hat of an antagonist. When he starred alongside Kanchana in (1967), he set the trend of handsome villains in Telugu cinema. It was the first instance when a villain was seen wearing fashionable clothes with slick hair and a sense of swag. Krishnam Raju played the antagonist in over 30 films that were headlined by actors such as NT Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Krishna and Sobhan Babu, among others. Later, he also went on to do supporting roles in various films. “I want good stories to define my career. The length or type of my role does not matter. At the end of the day, we are here to tell good stories and entertain audiences,” he had once said.

The original ‘Rebel Star’
After playing the antagonist in many films, Krishnam Raju turned lead hero again with the film in 1973. Although it was a female-oriented film, Krishnam Raju’s performance received tremendous appreciation. He earned the tag ‘Rebel Star’ for his ability to play unique characters and a rebellious style of acting. He then went on to give several hits as a lead actor and his performance in elevated his ‘Rebel Star’ status.
His first love: Photography
Before his foray into films, Krishnam Raju worked as a journalist for a Telugu publication. He received an award for photography, a hobby he cherished throughout his life. When he first arrived in Hyderabad, he set up a photo studio with plans to have a career in photography. However, his friends convinced him to test his luck in the film industry. “After moving to Hyderabad, I set up a photo studio here with a friend who was from Maharashtra. He used to click a lot of pictures of me even before I began acting. One of my uncles saw those photos and told me I looked like a hero but I didn’t take him seriously. I was more interested in clicking photographs, making films and even directing plays. I went to Madras, spent a lot of money in hopes of making a film but it never happened. Despite my lack of interest in acting, life had other plans for me,” he said in an interview.
Turning producer
At the peak of his acting career, Krishnam Raju decided to turn producer. His first production venture, , turned out to be a blockbuster. He then went on to bankroll many of his hit films, including and under his banner Gopi Krishna Movies. He also bankrolled his nephew Prabhas’ films such as and .
Political journey
Krishnam Raju first entered politics in 1992 when he contested Lok Sabha elections from Narsapuram constituency on a Congress ticket. After losing the election, he decided to step away from politics, only to return six years later as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Raju won the 1998 Lok Sabha elections from Kakinada constituency. He served as Union Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution between 2000-2002. In 2000, he even moved a motion in Lok Sabha for the introduction of the Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Bill.
Krishnam Raju to be cremated with full state honours
Krishnam Raju’s funeral will take place in Hyderabad on Monday, his family announced. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced that the actor-politician’s last rites will be conducted with full state honours as a tribute to his achievements and legacy. Several tributes poured in from the Telugu film industry.

I owe my entire career to him: Prabhas
Prabhas’ uncle Krishnam Raju has always been a father-figure to him, even more so after his father, producer Surya Narayana Raju’s passing in 2010. The star has often credited the OG Rebel Star for his success, once stating, “is the reason I am anywhere in my career today. He deserves credit for every right step I’ve taken; I will take credit only for my failures. When I began acting, he told me that every shot I give will remain in history and I live by it even today. He always told me hard work is important, so is the way I conduct myself. He is everything to me and my family.”
Krishnam Raju and Prabhas even shared the screen thrice – in and more recently, . In his two-decade-long career Prabhas has fulfilled his uncle’s wishes of pushing boundaries in cinema and leaving a lasting mark at the box office. But Krishnam Raju’s wish of seeing him married remains unfulfilled. “I hope he gets married soon and has babies so I can play with them,” he said in an interview earlier this year.

Krishnam Raju guided me like an elder brother: Chiranjeevi
Deeply saddened by the demise of Krishnam Raju . Hailing from the same village as me, he guided me like an elder brother and encouraged me right from the start of my career in films. From the time we worked together in , we have shared a close bonding. He truly lived up to the tag of ‘Rebel Star’. His loss will be felt not just by me but by the entire film industry and the lakhs of people he served.

Heartbroken to lose my friend of 50 years: Krishna
My friendship with Krishnam Raju goes back 50 years. I was introduced in this industry with (in 1965) and he was introduced a year later with . We remained good friends since then, acting in numerous films together since (1968). He played the villain in that film and even after he garnered success as a lead actor, we continued to act together. Many of our films like (1984) and (1991) went on to garner success. I am heartbroken because he has left us too soon. My condolences to his family.

Tributes pour in from Tollywood celebs
Jr NTR: Deeply saddened by Krishnam Raju ’s passing away. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace…
Vijay Deverakonda: You will always be in our hearts..You were our Ramayya in .. Om Shanti Krishnam Raju . My condolences and prayers for Prabhas and the entire family
Venkatesh: Shocked and saddened by the passing of Krishnam Raju . He will be missed. Deepest condolences to Prabhas and his family.
Mohan Babu: I am at loss of words! Krishnam Raju my brother.
Anushka Shetty: Rest in peace our very own Krishnam raju … a legend a soul with the biggest heart ..U will live on in our hearts
Pawan Kalyan: Krishnam Raju is known from bringing his unique style of acting to Telugu cinema. He was admired by everyone and won hearts as an actor, producer and political leader. The news of his demise is deeply upsetting.
Balakrishna: The death of Krishnam Raju, who was known for his goodness, has deeply shaken us. Krishnam Raju has made an indelible mark in the fields of cinema and politics. Acting in two films with Krishnam Raju was an unforgettable experience.
Allu Arjun: Extremely saddened to learn about the sudden passing of Krishnam Raju . His contribution to the film industry was immense. My deepest condolences to his family, friends & fans . May his soul rest in peace.

Nandi Awards:
Best Actor: (1977)
Best Actor: (1984)
Best Character Actor: (1994)
Filmfare Awards:
Best Actor - Telugu – (1977)
Special Jury Award – (1983)
Best Actor - Telugu – (1984)
Best Actor - Telugu – (1986)
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2006)