Telugu actor Taraka Ratna passes away at 39

Tollywood star Nandamuri Taraka Ratna passed away on Saturday night. He was admitted to Bengaluru’s Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences on January 27 after he collapsed during a padyatra of TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh in Kuppam town of Andhra Pradesh. He was 39. Taraka is survived by his wife Alekhya Reddy and a daughter.

For the unversed, Taraka Ratna was the grandson of TDP founder, prominent actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao. The late actor-turned-politician was the cousin of Junior NTR, Kalyan Ram and Lokesh. Reportedly, during Lokesh’s padayatra in Kuppam in the Chittoor district, the young actor had a severe heart attack and fell unconscious. He was taken to a hospital in Kuppam right away and treated with PCR there. According to reports, his condition deteriorated and he slipped into a coma last month.

Taraka Ratna made his film debut with Okato Number Kurraadu, which was released in 2002 under the direction of K. Raghavendra Rao. Later on, he acted in about a dozen movies and web series. He reportedly joined Lokesh on the first day of the padyatra as he was expected to run for the TDP in the upcoming Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Taraka Ratna’s demise sent shockwaves and several Tollywood celebrities and political figures, including Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Karnataka Health Minister Dr Sudhakar K and actor Allu Arjun, paid their condolences. As per media reports, his funeral will be today on February 20.