Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

TV actor Achyuth dies of heart attack

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Dec. 26. Popular television and cinema artiste, Achyuth, died on Thursday morning of heart attack. Doctors at a corporate hospital in Banjara Hills said he had suffered a massive cardiac arrest.

He was 41 and is survived by his wife, Rama Devi, two daughters -- Sai Sujatha (5) and Sai Sivani (two-and-a-half years). At 5.45 a.m. Achyuth complained of chest pain and was rushed to the hospital. A team of doctors did its best, but at around 1.45 p.m. he was declared dead.

There was a steady stream of mourners at Achyuth's house at Chikkadpally. Among those who paid their respects were Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, J.D. Chakravathy, Rajasekhar, Jeevita and Tammareddy Bharadwaja. The television industry was represented in full strength.

Apart from being a familiar figure on television, Achyuth was known to be a courteous man and one who had made a lot of friends. He acted in over 50 movies and 50 telly serials. He was a five-time Nandi Award winner and bagged Vasavi Vaartha TV award four times. He was popular for `Himabindu,' `Antarangalu' and `Anubandham' serials.

The body would be kept at Rama Naidu kalyana mandapam at the A.P. Film Chamber of Commerce in Film Nagar between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. to enable people to pay last respects.

CM expresses grief

The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, expressed grief at the sudden death of Achyuth. "A bright career of a talented artiste has come to an abrupt end," he said.

Prominent TV artiste, Pradeep, was close to tears. "People used to call us -- Achyuth, myself, Ashok and Kadambari Kiran -- as the four pillars of the Telugu television industry. We have lost one,'' he said.

Office-bearers of Rasaranjani, an organisation promoting theatre activity, expressed shock and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members. Theatre personality, J.V. Somayajulu, who is Rasaranjani's secretary, described Achyuth as a devoted artiste. The Artistes Association of Telugu Television expressed grief. In a press release, its president, B. Ashok Rao, and the general secretary, M. Vinod Bala, said the loss was irreparable.

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