Vivek Oberoi visits Anantapur, pays tributes to former minister Paritala Ravi

Hyderabad: Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi on Saturday visited Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district and paid homage to former minister Paritala Ravi, whose character he played in Ram Gopal Varma's "Rakta Charitra" in 2010.

Vivek visited Paritala Ghat and offered floral tributes to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader, who was gunned down by his rivals in Anantapur in 2005.

He met Ravi's wife and Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Paritala Sunita and her son Paritala Sriram.

"This is the second time I have come here. I was here a few years ago. The experience this time has been even more emotional. I really feel honoured to be part of this amazing celebrations...," the actor told reporters.

He said he should now be treated as a resident of Anantapur, and announced his decision to adopt a village in the district.

Paying rich tributes to Ravi, Vivek said he worked hard for development of the district and for the welfare of poor.

Andhra Pradesh assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad and many TDP leaders also paid tributes to Ravi.

Vivek had first visited Anantapur in 2010, the year "Rakta Charitra" was released.

The multilingual film revolves around the feud between families of gangster-turned-politicians Paritala Ravi and Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelachervu Suri.

Ravi was gunned down in 2005 allegedly by the followers of Congress leader Suri.

"Rakta Charitra" starred Vivek Oberoi, Surya and its sequel "Rakta Charitra II" hit the screens in late 2010.

Suri was gunned down by his aide in a moving car in Hyderabad Jan 4, 2011.

Dozens of people were killed in the rivalry between the two families, which began when Suri's father Gangula Narayana Reddy allegedly got his rival P. Sriramulu killed. The latter's son Ravi took revenge by eliminating Narayana Reddy, several of his aides and family members.

Ravi allegedly tried to kill Suri through a television bomb in 1993. Suri was not at home but five of his relatives were killed. Suri retaliated with a car bomb blast at Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad in 1997. Though Ravi escaped unhurt, 26 people were killed and many injured in the bomb blast.

Suri, who was sentenced to life in the blast case, continued to call the shots even from the confines of his cell and allegedly got killed many rivals including Ravi through his aides. He was released after the government granted remission on grounds of good conduct.