ANR

Akkineni Nageswara Rao is a prominent Indian film actor and producer, studio owner. He toured all over the world as an ambassador of art and culture. Dr. Nageswara Rao was invited as a State Guest by the United States of America, England, France and Germany in 1964 and USSR in 1972 besides some other countries in the continent to study the Film Craft and Theatre Arts in the respective countries. He had visited Australia in 1967 leading the delegates for the Indian Entry Film, Antasthulu, at the Sydney Film Festival. He also led a high level Film Delegation to Mauritius. All through the world, the people felicitated Dr. Akkineni with love and honour.

Apart from being a movie star, ANR was a prolific writer. Some of his prominent books being are his autobiographical work, Nenu Na Jeevitham, the memoirs of his first visit to the USA, Nenu Choosina America, and  the expression of  his thoughts in his book, A Aalu. His most recent, contemplative, self-reflective work is the book Manasuloni Maata. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from several Indian universities.

He  spoke of  how  'supposed  to bad  news'  in  life turned out to be advantageous and helped him live happier and longer. His  heart  bypass  surgery  in 1974  and  subsequent heart attack after 6 years led him to visit USA to meet world famous cardiologist from Kerala Dr. Gangadharan in California.

One of the Famous Speeches

Akkineni Nageswara Rao's 89th birthday and his USA visit filled with affection and appreciation for NRI Telugus on Aug 24th, 2012 at St Toma Church Farmington, MI USA.

ANR said that the secret to his long life was his work ethic, discipline, and strong food regimen. But equally important were his treatments and conversations with Dr. Gangadharan in 1980s. Dr Gangadharan, who also is fan of ANR movies, counseled him psychologically to lead a happy and healthy life without worrying about death.

ANR quoted  Dr Gangadharan ' Mr Rao  you  have  enacted  death  many times in movies, death is not new to you  and  now go  back  and lead  a healthy  happy  life. You don't need any more procedures on your heart.' ANR said  those  words  were like powerful  psychological  medicine  and  boosted  to  his  morale and  happiness  in  life. That led to his new philosophy of, 'It doesn't  matter  how many years you live but  how happy you live.'

ANR  personally  invited  Dr. Gangadharan  and  family to  the  stage and  presented " Ganda Berundam" or gold bracelet  with  touching  words, 'This bracelet is not made of gold but with sentiment and character of  Nageswara Rao.'  He thanked  his  best friend  Madhav Rao Tummala for encouraging him to visit US after his personal loss  of  Smt Annapurnamma  in Dec 2011, his wife for 73 years.

On 19 Oct 2013 he held a press meet and announced that he is diagnosed with Cancer.

This was really a shocking news. But, he will definitely come out of  the cancer like  YuvaRaj Singh.