Actress Telangana Shakuntala dead at 63

Telangana Shakuntala, a popular Telugu actress, died here on Saturday, a hospital source said. She was 63.

“She was admitted to the hospital around 2.30am...after a cardiac arrest at her residence. She was declared dead on arrival,” a Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital source said.

Shakuntala, who made her cinematic debut in the 1981 Telugu film Maa Bhoomi, went on to act in 74 films. The Telugu comedy Pandavulu Pandavulu Tummeda was her last film, which was released earlier this year.

Known for popularising the Telangana accent in her comic and villain roles, Shakuntala was a Maharashtrian by birth.

Some of her best films include Aha Naa Pellanta, Gulabi, Bhadrachalam, Nuvvu Nenu and Bendu Apparao RMP.

She also worked in Tamil films such as Dhool and Machak Kaalaia.

Shakuntala’s body will be kept at the AP Film Chamber of Commerce for the public to pay their respects from 1pm onwards and her last rites will be performed in Alwal at around 2.30pm on Saturday.

Shakuntala is survived by a son and daughter.