Legendary Tollywood actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao celebrated his 88th birthday with family members, fans and well-wishers at Annapoorna Studios in Hyderabad, on Tuesday.

Nandamuri Balakrishna, producers Ashwini Dutt, K L Narayana, Saibabu, and other celebrities met the veteran and conveyed their greetings, besides seeking his blessings.

The star 's Valmiki act in Sri Rama Rajyam is much-awaited.

Nageswara Rao was born in a poor farmer's family on 20 September 1924 at Ramapuram, Krishna District. He has stated on record in several interviews that his education was limited to primary schooling due to his parents' poor economic conditions. Nageswara Rao took to acting at a very early age. He started acting in street plays at the age of nine.