Veteran Telugu actor Lakshmi Devi Kanakala passed away on Saturday at the age of 78. She was reportedly suffering from multiple age-related illnesses for the last two months. She passed away at a private hospital in Hyderabad.
Lakshmi used to be a popular actor in the 1980s. She is known for films such as Prema Bandham and Police Lockup.
"My mother suffered cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment in the hospital. She was a good teacher and actress. She acted in some movies, performed plays and dance recitals, and also featured in some TV serials," Lakshmi's son Rajeev told the media.
Condolences soon started pouring in from the film industry.
“She taught humility, she fed us during class and she generously taught her art to make me an artist. To be doing just what you taught me to do on the day you passed on is my salute to you. RIP my first guru Lakshmi Kanakala Garu, an irreplaceable loss,” wrote actor Allari Naresh.
She taught humility,she fed us during class and she generously taught her art to make me an https://t.co/6wpEIF9pxM be doing just what you taught me to do on the day you passed on is my salute to https://t.co/sROHh7vd2x my first guru Lakshmi Kanakala Garu,an irreplaceable loss.
— Allari Naresh (@allarinaresh) February 3, 2018
Actors Chiranjeevi and Jr NTR also offered their condolences.
@tarak9999 pays tribute to Rajeev Kanakala's Mother Lakshmi Devi as she passes away..! pic.twitter.com/sPa0xWeBOt
— Kethineni Vishwanth (@vishwanth_views) February 3, 2018
Movie Artistes Association President Sivaji Raja and Secretary VK Naresh also expressed their condolences.
Her husband Devadas is also a veteran actor, with a career spanning four decades. The two started a film institute together, of which Lakshmi was the principal. She has reportedly trained many generations of Telugu film families, and has even trained Chiranjeevi. The film institute had to be shut down in the late 90s.
The actor is survived by her husband Devadas, son Rajeev Kanakala, daughter Sri Lakshmi, daughter-in-law Suma, son-in-law Ramarao and grandchildren.
Lakshmi and Devadas’s son Rajeev went on to have his own successful career in both television and films.