Senior actor Geetanjali passed away on Thursday in Hyderabad. The 72-year-old was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city’s Film Nagar area.
The veteran actor had appeared in several films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi, and had also worked with cinema giants like NT Rama Rao.
Originally born as Mani in Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, she was married to popular actor Ramakrishna, who passed away in 2001. She is survived by her son Adith Srinivas, who is also an actor.
According to reports, she made her acting debut through the Telugu film Seetharama Kalyanam in 1961 with NTR. She went on to do several films including Bobbili Yuddham, Gudachari 116, Swapnangal and Doctor Chakravarty among others.
More recently, she worked on That Is Mahalakshmi, the official Telugu remake of the Hindi film Queen, which stars Tamannaah in the lead role.
Geetanjali’s last rites are expected to be held on Thursday evening in Hyderabad, where several prominent personalities from the film industry are expected to pay their respects.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his condolences to the family over the actor’s death.
“She left a deep impression on Telugu cinema. She also worked in films in other languages and showed her talent there. He expressed his condolences to her family,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Calling her death ‘tragic’, Leader of Opposition and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief took to Twitter to say, “I extend my deepest sympathies to her family members and pray to god to give her peace.”
ఎన్టీఆర్ దర్శకత్వంలో సీతారామ కళ్యాణం చిత్రంలో సీతగా నటించి ప్రేక్షక హృదయాలలో సుస్థిర స్థానం ఏర్పరుచుకుని, ఆ తర్వాత హాస్యనటిగా రాణించిన నటీమణి గీతాంజలిగారి మరణం విచారకరం. ఆమె ఆత్మకు శాంతి చేకూరాలని భగవంతుని ప్రార్థిస్తూ, ఆమె కుటుంబసభ్యులకు నా ప్రగాఢ సానుభూతిని తెలియజేస్తున్నాను. pic.twitter.com/iWYnTMB7Li
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) October 31, 2019
Several people also took to social media to express their grief at the veteran actor’s death.
Actor & Leader #NandamuriBalakrishna is saddened over the sudden demise of veteran actress #Geethanjali garu pic.twitter.com/LtFDOh3gGt
— Vamsi Kaka (@vamsikaka) October 31, 2019
Sad to hear #Geethanjali garus sudden demise. My condolences-to the family ... she was very close to our family and it’s really heartbreaking.... u will always live through Cinema andi Rest in peace ... pic.twitter.com/g6BpsAkz0C
— MM* (@HeroManoj1) October 31, 2019
Too soon to go. She was a sweet sweet lady. RIP aunty. May the family find strength during this difficult time https://t.co/q1xVZeh0wI
— Lakshmi Manchu (@LakshmiManchu) October 31, 2019
Senior actress #Geethanjali garu is no more.
— Tollywood Updates (@TollywoodTU) October 31, 2019
She acted in morethan 500+ films in multiple languages. She was introduced to silverscreen by Legend NTR in 1961 and her last film is 'THAT IS MAHALAKSHMI' (Tamanna Heroine) is yet to release.
Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/fC9lBZeqQW
Oh No...She was a legend in Telugu cinema ..RIP ma'am #Geethanjaligaru#Geethanjali
— Soumya (@rsoumya8693) October 31, 2019