NEW DELHI: Anurag Thakur, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, expressed his sorrow at the passing of renowned veteran actor Ghattamaneni Krishna on Monday and offered his condolences to the actor's family.

The minister conveyed on Twitter, "Krishna Garu was a deeply respected superstar. His contribution to movies spanned over 50 years, with 300+ films he captivated audiences for generations and won numerous accolades." "Condolences to his family and friends. My thoughts are with @urstrulyMahesh. Om Shanti," 

Mahesh Babu's father and veteran actor  Ghattamaneni Krishna, the Andhra "James Bond," who had a large fan base during his lengthy career in Tollywood, died early on Tuesday in Hyderabad. 

The medical staff at Continental Hospital in Hyderabad revealed that actor Krishna was admitted there on Monday because of health concerns.

In an earlier statement, the doctors said that Ghattamaneni Krishna had been taken into the emergency room of Continental Hospitals, Hyderabad, at 01.15 am on November 14, 2022, in a cardiac arrest state.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan expressed sorrow over Superstar Ghattamaneni's passing after learning of his passing.

Governor Harichandan said, "In both the Telugu States, Krishna is well-known for his roles in more than 350 films over the course of a five-decade acting career. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian cinema. The Governor expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family members and claimed that Sri Krishna immortalised the role of Alluri Sitarama Raju in the movie he produced and acted in." Krishna, the long-running Andhra James Bond in Tollywood, has a sizable fan base.

The Chief Minister expressed his condolences to his actor son Mahesh Babu and other deceased family members and said that the actor had immortalised the role of Alluri Seetarama Raju in the movie and had many hits in his distinguished career.