Ramoji Film City founder and media baron Ramoji Rao passes away

Rao’s Ramoji Group owns the largest circulating Telugu newspaper, Eenadu.

Media baron Cherukuri Ramoji Rao, head of Ramoji Film City and ETV Network, passed away on June 8 in Hyderabad. He was 87.

Rao was undergoing treatment at Star Hospital and took his last breath at 3.45 am, as per news agency ANI.

Rao was born on November 16, 1936. Rao’s Ramoji Group owns the largest circulating Telugu newspaper, Eenadu.  He also owned the ETV network and the large number of channels that fall under it.

The group also owns the Ramoji Film City, one of the largest film production facilities in the world.

As per News18, in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic times, Ramoji Rao donated Rs 10 crore each to the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers’ Relief Funds. He had expressed hope that the two chief ministers succeed in their fight against the deadly virus that killed millions.

In 2016, Rao was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award by Pranab Mukherjee for his contributions to literature, journalism, and media.

Other companies owned by the Ramoji Group include Margadarsi Chit Fund, Ramadevi Public School, Priya Foods, Kalanjali, Ushakiran Movies. Rao was also the chairman of Dolphin Group of Hotels in Andhra Pradesh.

He had also got four Filmfare Awards South, five Nandi Awards and the National Film Award for his works in Telugu cinema.