N. T. Rama Rao Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About N. T. Rama Rao

• Was N. T. Rama Rao a smoker? Yes, NTR smoked.

• It is unclear whether N. T. Rama Rao consumed alcohol.

• Rao’s birth took place in a humble farming family with limited resources.

• Since there was no school available in his village, he obtained his initial education from his teacher, Valluru Subba Rao, who taught him in a village shed.

• Nandamuri Ramaiah, his paternal uncle, became his adoptive guardian.

• His family relocated to Vijayawada in 1933, where he finished his schooling at a municipal school.

• He struggled with academics and successfully passed his 12th standard exam on his third attempt.

• At the age of 20, he entered into matrimony with ‘Basava Tarakam’ and together they were blessed with 8 sons and 4 daughters.

• Out of 1100 candidates who appeared for the Madras Service Commission Exam, he was one of the 7 who successfully cleared it.

• He began his employment as a sub-registrar at Madras Service Commission in 1947, earning a respectable salary of ₹190 per month. Nevertheless, he resigned a mere three weeks after joining to focus on his acting career.

• In 1941-42, he had earned recognition as a talented painter by winning a state-level competition.

• In Vijayawada, he encountered Subhash Chandra Bose and showcased his portrayal to him.

• In his debut film ‘Mana Desam’ (1949), he portrayed the character of a police officer, marking the beginning of a successful journey. From that point on, he never turned back. He received a payment of ₹1000 for his role in the movie.

• He portrayed the character of Krishna in a total of 17 films, including the Tamil movies ‘Karnan’, ‘Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham’, and ‘Daana Veera Soora Karna’. His debut in the mythological genre was marked by the blockbuster film ‘Maya Bazaar’ (1957), where he beautifully depicted Lord Krishna for the very first time.

• In the movies ‘Lava Kusha’ and ‘Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham’, he played the role of Lord Rama. In ‘Bhookailas’ and ‘Seetharama Kalyanam’, he portrayed Ravana. Additionally, he depicted Lord Shiva in ‘Dakshayagnam’ and Lord Vishnu in ‘Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam’.

• He abandoned princely roles and embraced the impoverished yet courageous characters that fought against the injustices and prejudices prevalent in our society. These films resonated deeply with the masses, including titles such as ‘Devudu Chesina Manushulu,’ ‘Justice Chowdhary,’ ‘Driver Ramudu,’ ‘Bobbili Puli,’ ‘Kondaveeti Simham,’ ‘Sardar Papa Rayudu,’ ‘Adavi Ramudu,’ and ‘Vetagadu.’

• Ramakrishna Studios was established in memory of his eldest son, Nandamuri Ramakrishna Sr, who passed away in 1962.

• He produced numerous movies under his production houses, namely “National Art Theater Private Limited, Madras” and “Ramakrishna Studios, Hyderabad”. Additionally, he also produced a handful of films featuring other actors.

• He is renowned for directing twelve movies and having starred in over 300 films.

• Throughout his life, he had consistently displayed a strong passion for acquiring knowledge. At the age of 40, he embarked on a journey to learn the art of dancing from the renowned Kuchipudi dancer Vempati Chinna Satyam in order to prepare for his role in the movie ‘Nartanasala’ (1963).

• During the election campaign, NTR became the pioneer Indian politician to utilize Rath Yatra as a means of campaigning. Accompanied by his son Nandamuri Harikrishna, who is both an actor and politician, they embarked on a journey spanning approximately 75,000 kilometers across Andhra Pradesh in their Chevrolet van. NTR’s objective was to uplift the self-respect and honor of the Telugu people, which he expressed through the slogan “Telugu Vari Atma Gauravam” (Telugu people’s self-respect). As part of his campaign, NTR actively participated in a Rath Yatra.

• From 1983 to 1994, he became Andhra Pradesh’s inaugural Chief Minister from outside the Congress party.

• In 1984, NTR took on the responsibility of campaigning and managing all party affairs for All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) as his close friend and fellow actor M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), who was then serving as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was unable to do so due to illness. NTR stood alongside MGR during this time.

• He had coronary bypass surgery in the U.S. in 1984.

• Governor Ram Lal, during his recovery from surgery in 1984, chose to dismiss his Ministry, appointing Nadendla Bhaskara Rao as the new Chief Minister.

• After the demise of his first wife ‘Basava Tarakam’ due to cancer in 1985, NTR took the initiative to establish the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad. This hospital was founded as a tribute to his beloved late wife.

• He tied the knot with Lakshmi Parvathi in 1993, with a significant age difference of approximately 30 years between them.

• He consistently supported legislation concerning women’s rights in inheritance, specifically a law that ensures equal rights for women in inheriting ancestral property.

• He died in 1996 as a result of a heart attack.

• It was not until the State Assembly elections in 2004, when ‘Chandrababu Naidu’ lost, that Lakshmi Parvathi, his wife, finally immersed his ashes, after a wait of 8 years.

• Vidya Balan took on the role of NTR’s first wife, Basava Tarakam, in his biopic in 2019. Meanwhile, Balakrishna, his son, portrayed the role of NTR himself. Vidya Balan has been chosen to portray the character of NTR’s wife in his biographical film.

• On 29 August 2023, President Droupadi Murmu of India unveiled a Rs. 100 commemorative coin at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Center in New Delhi. The event marked the hundredth birth anniversary of N. T. Rama Rao. Droupadi Murmu can be observed positioned third from the left during the launch of N. T. Rama Rao’s commemorative coin.