From correspondents in Andhra Pradesh, India, 04:00 PM IST

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi Monday promised to extend all assistance to the family of his close friend and actor Hari Prasad, who died Sunday night while participating in a debate on a Telugu television channel.

Chiranjeevi called the family members of Prasad and promised to stand by them. He expressed his shock and grief over the sudden demise of his friend.

'He was my friend for 30 years. I have many friends but Prasad was different. It is a huge loss. What pained me more is that he passed away while talking about me,' said Chiranjeevi.

Prasad, 55, suffered a cardiac arrest while participating in a debate being telecast live on a television channel. The debate was on Chiranjeevi's entry into politics.

The superstar Sunday announced that he was entering politics and was dedicating his life to the service of people.

Prasad was Chiranjeevi's classmate at the Madras Film Institute. He began his film career with Telugu film 'Shivaranjani' and acted in over 100 Telugu and Kannada movies. He also produced some of Chiranjeevi's blockbuster movies.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)