Akkineni Nageswara Rao's last interview

On October 19, 2013, the Grand Old Man of Telugu cinema, Akkineni Nageswara Rao did the unthinkable. He called a ���personal press conference��� and announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer. ���On October 8, I suffered a bout of stomach ache. I consulted doctors and after a thorough check-up, they detected cancer.���
Having played a cancer patient in a few films, he understands the predicament that patients go through, said the Dadasaheb Phalke awardee, adding that he admires the fighting spirit of those afflicted.���Generally, people think that cancer patients have a short life, post detection. But that���s just melodramatic and happens only in movies, it���s not true in every case,��� explained Nageswara Rao.
���If cancer affects a younger person, it spreads aggressively. But at age 90, the disease does not have such an effect on me and is not spreading rapidly either.��� Assuring his fans of his wellbeing, ANR said, ���I���m glad that at least it didn���t afflict me when I was younger. But let me say this ��� being detected with cancer is not the end of your life ��� you can live positively and happily,��� he said.
���In 1974, I went to the US for an operation as I had high cholesterol. At that time, doctors said I will live only for 14 years. I proved them wrong. But in 1988, I suffered a heart attack and went to the US again for a heart surgery,��� recalls ANR. ���I don���t want people to sympathise with me. That���s something I dislike. I want people around me to be happy and send out positive vibes. I need all the love, support and encouragement from my fans ��� just like how they stood by me all these years. With their love, I know I can defeat the disease,��� said the actor.
Despite battling the life threatening disease, the veteran actor didn���t seem to lose his sense of humour. ���My mother lived till she was 96 years old. So, I���m positive of living up to that age or even more. In fact, my target is 96, but I���m sure I���ll live to cross a 100,��� he had said. This was perhaps the only prophesy he didn���t fulfill.