Nandamuri Taraka Ratna (22 February 1983 – 18 February 2023) was an Indian actor who worked inTelugu cinema. After his debut inOkato Number Kurraadu (2003), he acted in several films as the lead actor and a few as the antagonist. He was a member of theNandamuri family which is influential in Telugu cinema and politics. Taraka Ratna was also an aspiring politician from the Indian state ofAndhra Pradesh, rooting for theTelugu Desam Party. He died on 18 February 2023 at the age of 39 atNarayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, following severe health complications.^[1]

Nandamuri Taraka Ratna was born on 22 February 1983 inHyderabad,Andhra Pradesh. He was the son ofNandamuri Mohana Krishna, a cinematographer inTelugu cinema, and Nandamuri Shanti. He was the grandson of Telugu actor and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,N. T. Rama Rao, his wife Nandamuri Basavatarakam andN. Trivikrama Rao. He has a sister, Rupa.

Ratna was the cousin of actorsNandamuri Kalyan Ram andJr. N.T.R, and politicianNara Lokesh.^[2] He is the nephew of actor and politicianNandamuri Balakrishna, actor and politicianNandamuri Harikrishna, politiciansDaggubati Purandeswari,Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, and chief minister of Andhra Pradesh,N. Chandrababu Naidu.^[3]Fondly called "Obu" by his family, Taraka Ratna was reportedly preparing to contest the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Elections, according toTelugu Desam Party chiefN. Chandrababu Naidu.^[4]

Ratna made his debut withOkato Number Kurraadu (2002), written and produced byK. Raghavendra Rao.^[5] During his debut, Taraka Ratna signed nine films at once as the lead (a record)^{[citation needed]} includingYuva Rathna (2003),Taarak (2003), andBhadradri Ramudu.^[6] His played the antagonist inAmaravathi (2009), for which he received aNandi Award.^[7]He also acted inNandeeswarudu,Maha Bhaktha Siriyala (2014),Venkatadri (2009),^[8]Kakatheeyudu (2019),Devineni (2021) and a TV series9 Hours^[9] amongst others.

Taraka Ratna married Alekhya Reddy, a divorcee, on August 2, 2012 at theSanghi Temple. She was a costume designer in one of his films where they met and fell in love. Despite both their families being against the marriage, they got married in the presence of a couple of friends and two family members from Alekhya's side. The couple had three children, a girl in 2013, and later a twin boy and girl.^[10][11]

On 27 January 2023, he participated in a political road yatraYuva Galam Padayatra event with his cousinNara Lokesh inKuppam,Andhra Pradesh. During the event, Ratna suffered a massivecardiac arrest and fainted.^[12][13] He was administeredCardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first aid. He was taken to a local hospital in Kuppam for treatment,^[14] and on the following day transferred to a specialized cardiac hospital inBangalore. Heart specialists from USA were brought for his treatment, and procedures forBalloon Angioplasty,Intra Aortic Balloon Pump, vasoactive support, and other advanced cardio services were provided to him two days before his death.^[15]

Ratna died on 18 February 2023, at the age of 39 while undergoing treatment in Bangalore. He had spent twenty-three days in the hospital in critical condition.^[16] He died four days before his 40th birthday.^[17]

His body was moved from Bangalore to his house in Hyderabad. Later he was shifted to Film Chamber for his fans to visit. His cremation was conducted at Jubilee Hills Mahaprasthanam.^[16]

2009 –Nandi Award for Best Villain –Amaravathi^[21]

• Taraka Ratna atIMDb

• 1983 births
• 2023 deaths
• Telugu male actors
• Male actors in Telugu cinema
• Indian male film actors
• 21st-century Indian male actors
• Nandamuri–Nara family
• Nandi Award winners
• Male actors from Andhra Pradesh

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