Rama Rao, N. T. (1923-1996), was an Indian motion-picture actor and politician. From 1948 to 1982, he starred in more than 320 films made in Telugu, one of the four main Dravidian languages of India. He gained fame for his portrayal of mythological characters, including Krishna , a role he played nine times. He founded a political party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and became chief minister of Andhra Pradesh .
N. T. Rama Rao left the motion-picture industry in 1982 and founded the TDP in protest over what he saw as corruption in the Congress government that ruled Andhra Pradesh at that time. In 1983, his party came to power. His film-star charisma was a great asset in his political career. He became the chairman of the National Front, an electoral coalition that defeated the Congress Party in the 1989 national elections. That same year, his party lost the Andhra Pradesh state elections. He returned to power in 1994, but his own party removed him from office following a power struggle with his son-in-law Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu succeeded him as chief minister.
Nandamuri Tarak Rama Rao, or NTR as he was often known, was born on May 28, 1923, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. He began acting in motion pictures while still a young man. He was India’s highest-paid actor at the time he retired from films and began his political career. He died on Jan. 18, 1996.
