Super star reaches stars

PNS | Hyderabad

Veteran Telugu cinema star Krishna, who had a few ‘firsts’ to his credits in his five-decade stint in tinseltown, died here on Tuesday at a super specialty hospital where he was undergoing treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest earlier.

Krishna was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of Monday and was put on ventilator.He was being treated by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors following the cardiac arrest.

Over the last 24 hours, Krishna continued to remain in an extremely critical state, following his admission to the emergency ward due to a cardiac arrest and upon resuscitation he was shifted to ICU, the hospital said in a statement.

“He remained critically ill with multi-organ failure and severe hypoxic brain injury it was decided late evening with family members and all the consultants not to pursue further supportive care given to his dismal prognosis and to keep him final moments painless and peaceful. He expired in early hours of the morning at 4.09 AM,” the statement said.

Krishna’s last rites will be performed on Wednesday at Mahaprasthanam , Mahesh Babu’s firm GMB Entertainment said in tweet.

Due to traffic restrictions, Krishna’s body will remain at his Nanakaramguda residence and arrangements have been made for fans to visit his home and pay their last respects, GMB said in another tweet Ghattamaneni Sivarama Krishna, popularly known as Krishna, began his career in the early 1960s and acted in about 350 films.

While the legends N T Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao were the first generation stars in Telugu cinema, Krishna and Sobhan Babu belonged to the subsequent one before the era of Chiranjeevi began. Krishna began his acting career on the stage in early 1960s, before making it big on the silver screen.

“Krishna Garu was a legendary superstar, who won hearts of people through his versatile acting and lively personality. His demise is a colossal loss to the world of cinema and entertainment,”
– Prime Minister Modi

“Krishna, who acted in over 350 movies, left an indelible mark on the hearts of moviegoers and his death is a huge loss for the Telugu film industry,”
– Telangana CM KCR

“Krishna garu is a Telugu superstar. He is Alluri…He is our James Bond. As a man of heart in real life as well, who earned distinction for himself in the film industry, his death is a great loss for Telugu film industry and Telugu people,”
– AP CM Jagan

“He was a gentleman, producers’ hero and a superstar. Krishna himself was a daring producer who pioneered technology in Telugu films,”
– Chandra Babu