Iconic media baron and movie moghul Cherukuri Ramoji Rao passed away in the wee hours of Saturday. Ramoji Rao was 87. He was rushed to the Star Hospitals at Nanakramguda in Hyderabad on June 5, after he suffered from high blood pressure and breathlessness. Doctors installed a stent in his heart and put him on a ventilator in the ICU, where he breathed his last at 4:50 am on Saturday after his condition deteriorated. Ramoji Rao successfully recovered from colon cancer a few years ago.

Ramoji Rao’s rise to riches is an inspiring story. Born into an agricultural family on November 16, 1936, in the Pedaparupudi village of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, he went on to establish the world’s largest theme park and film studio, Ramoji Film City. Margadarsi Chit Fund, Eenadu Newspaper, ETV Network, Ramadevi Public School, Priya Foods, Kalanjali, Ushakiran Movies, Mayuri Film Distributors, and Dolphin Group of Hotels are the companies owned by Ramoji Rao.

As a media baron, Ramoji Rao had an undeniable command over Telugu politics. Several state and national leaders shared close ties with Ramoji Rao and looked up to him for advice in crucial affairs. The government of India honored Ramoji Rao with India’s second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, in 2016 for his invaluable contributions in the fields of journalism, literature, cinema, and education.

Ramoji Rao turned filmmaker with the 1984 superhit romantic drama Srivariki Premalekha. He went on to produce numerous classics, such as Mayuri, Pratighatana, Mouna Poratam, Manasu Mamata, Chitram, and Nuvve Kavali, to name a few. Dagudumootha Dandakor (2015) is his last film as a producer. His movies won the prestigious Nandi, Filmfare and the National Film Awards multiple times.

123telugu extends its deepest condolences to the legendary Ramoji Rao’s family members and friends in their hour of grief.