TDP founder NTR's son and actor-politician Nandamuri Harikrishna died in a road accident in Telangana's Nalgonda district early today morning. He was 61 years old. Harikrishna, a former Rajya Sabha member, and a former Andhra Pradesh minister sustained critical head injuries when the car in which he was traveling along with two others overturned near Anneparthi. The vehicle, being driven by Harikrishna, hit the divider while overtaking a vehicle and collided with another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. He was shifted to Kamineni Hospital at Narketpally, where he succumbed. Two others accompanying him were injured.
Harikrishna, son of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, was on his way to Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh to attend a marriage.
He had two wives Lakshmi and Shalini, two sons Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram, both actors, and daughter Suhasini. His eldest son Janki Ram was also killed in road accident in 2014 in the same district. In 2009, Junior NTR had escaped with injuries in a road accident, also in Nalgonda district.
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Born on September 2, 1956, at Nimmakur in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, Harikrishna, fourth son of NTR, began his film career as a child artist in 1960s. He debut in 1967 was in Shri Krishnavataram featuring his father NTR, who was the most popular actor of his times. Talla Pellamma (1970), Tatamma Kala (1974), Ram Raheem (1974), Daana Veera Shura Karna (1977), Sri Ramulayya (1998) and Seetharama Raju (1999) were some of his other films.
He was reportedly keen to see his son Junior NTR, a popular actor, taking reins of the party founded by NTR in 1982.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other members of the NTR family rushed to Telangana's Nalgonda district where the accident took place. Shocked family members also reached Kamineni Hospital at Narketpally, where Harikrishna, succumbed minutes after he was brought up with critical injuries.
Harikrishna's sons Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram were the first to reach the hospital and broke down on seeing the body of their father. His brother-in-law N. Chandrababu Naidu along with his son Nara Lokesh flew in a helicopter from Vijayawada.
Harikrishna's brother actor Balakrishna, sister and former central minister D. Purandeswari and brother-in-law D. Venkateshwara Rao also reached the hospital. Actor Jagapati Babu was also among those who came to the hospital. Police had a tough time controlling the crowd, which had gathered outside the hospital. Meanwhile, several relatives, friends, Telugu Desam Party leaders and Telugu film personalities started pouring in at Harikrishna's house in Hyderabad.
