Veteran director Dasari Narayana Rao no more

Dasari Narayana Rao died today after a prolonged battle with illness. Photo credit: twitter.

Veteran director, actor and former Union minister Dasari Narayana Rao died here on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 75.

Rao was admitted to a hospital a few months ago with a severe lung infection. He was discharged and readmitted four days ago. According to a medical bulletin, Rao passed away at 7 pm due to cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment.

Rao was born in Palakollu of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh to Mahalakshmi and Sairaj. He is survived by a daughter and two sons. Rao made his debut in cinema with Tatamanavadu, which won the Nandi award in 1974.

Swargam Narakam, Meghasandesam and Mavagaru were his other award-winning movies.

Guinness record

Rao holds a Guinness record for directing 150 movies in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages. He also produced 50 films. He was part of the Manmohan Singh Cabinet and was charge-sheeted in the coal scam.

His last wish was to make a biopic on the late Jayalalithaa. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed their condolences on the death of Rao.