Nandamuri Taraka Ratna, actor and member of the Nandamuri film family passed away Saturday night. The 39-year old actor is survived by his wife and daughter. 

Taraka Ratna suffered a heart attack on January 27 while campaigning for Nara Lokesh’s padayatra Yuvagalam in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh. He was first taken to a local hospital, where he was resuscitated and later, moved to the Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences in Bangalore for specialized treatment. He was admitted in this hospital, where he was battling for his rapidly deteriorating life over the last three weeks. 

Taraka Ratna made his debut in the Telugu film industry with the film Okato Number Kurradu (2002), directed by A Kondarami Reddy and produced by K Raghavendra Rao. He later went on to star in twenty odd films, namely Bhadradri Ramudu (2004), Amaravathi (2009), Nandeeswarudu (2011)  Edhuruleni Alexander (2012) and Raja Cheyi Vesthe (2016). For his role in Amaravathi, where he played an antagonist, Taraka Ratna received the Nandi Award, under the best villain category. He was last seen headlining the 2022 Disney+Hotstar original web series 9 hours,a crime thriller helmed by filmmaker Krish Jagarlamudi. 

Taraka Ratna is the son of cinematographer and producer Nandamuri Mohana Krishna and the grandson of Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao, actor and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. He is the nephew of actors Nandamuri Balakrishna, Nandamuri Harikrishna and politician Daggubati Purandeshwari and the first cousin of actors NTR Jr and Nandamuri Kalyan Ram. The actor had also made his foray into politics late last year, planning to represent Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh. 

Taraka Ratna’s mortal remains will be transported from HAL airport, Bangalore to the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad via an air ambulance, arranged by Narayana Hrudayalaya. His last rites will take place in Hyderabad on Sunday.