Akkineni Nageshwar Rao's last words

“My mother Punnamma lived for 96 years. I will match that,” ANR said, adding that he made his own study and found that the cancer cells will not spread fast in old age. “I spoke to world renowned cancer specialist Dr Nori Dattareyudu in USA and he assured that cancer could be defeated,” ANR said.

He urged his fans and well wishers to pray for him. “Your blessings will keep me alive for a longer time,” he said.

He was born in a farmer's family but grew up to be one of the country's acting legends. Akkineni Nageswara Rao believes one should enter films with "devotion" and not because it is the "fashion" to do so and says if you're popular, you're bound to be responsible for your actions.

"You always carry huge responsibility as an actor when you become popular. One should be careful about his or her actions both in films and in public life," Akkineni told in an interview.

"Cinema is an honourable profession which gives you fame, money, laurels and popularity. Therefore, come with devotion, but never enter the industry for fashion," added the octogenarian, who made his cinematic debut as a lead actor in 1994 film 'Seetha Rama Jananam'.

Known for his work in Telugu films such as 'Devadasu', 'Mayabazar', 'Dr. Chakravarthy' and 'Muga Manasulu', Akkineni, popularly referred to as ANR, has always believed in "longevity" to connect with his audiences. "I was very careful from the beginning and knew that I need to focus on longevity in order to connect with audiences with every role I adorned. I was also aware of my weakness and hence it was all the more important for me to choose the right film with utmost care," he said.

Akkineni never hesitated to play a variety of roles, such as a villager, an urban educated protagonist, a tragic hero and even a comedian, to sustain his popularity over the years. "I never wanted people to get bored of seeing me on the screen in similar roles," said Akkineni, who still has a fan base equivalent to that of his star son Nagarjuna.

From being a farmer's boy to India's most respected actor: How did it happen? "I dropped out of school because my family couldn't afford it. I used to help my mother at her work, but at leisure, I used to stand in front of the mirror and act. My mother noticed my interest in acting and asked my brother to introduce me to the local theatre group," he said, adding: "I can't even think of what I would have been if not an actor."

Remembered for his memorable roles in films such as 'Sudigundaalu', 'Antastulu' and 'Meghasandesam', he recalls 'Batasari' and 'Devadasu' as two films he will always be proud of.

"I still consider 'Batasari' as one of my finest performances in my career. There was only one page of dialogue in the whole picture and the role demanded maximum use of expressions," he added.

Despite strong criticism, Akkineni acted in 'Devadasu', only to be catapulted to the status of Telugu cinema's first romantic hero.

"Many said I wasn't suited to star in a romantic saga, but the criticism made me all the more eager to prove myself. ' Devadasu' went on to become a classic, he said.

How did he manage the competition? "There were few people in the industry when I entered at 19. It helped me because the industry was looking for a new boy as the established actors were under contract with studios," he added.

Did his busy acting career keep him away from his family? "Initially, it was challenging as I got extremely busy with my career. As I learnt to include discipline into my schedules, I found ample time for my family," said Akkineni, who was married to Annapurna Akkineni for 62 years. She passed away in 2011.

Currently the actor is sharing screen space with his son and grandson Naga Chaitanya in 'Manam'.

Last Speech:

Akkineni Nageswara Rao baffled his fans and the film fraternity when he called for an emergency press meet to declare he was battling cancer. Speaking to reporters, ANR said he went for a routine medical check-up following severe stomach pain. The test results revealed that he had cancer.

The veteran actor put up a brave front and said he had no regrets as he has lived every moment of his life.Akkineni senior is currently working on multi-starrer which has three generations of his family in the lead roles. The film titled 'Manam' will hit theatres next years.