A 17-year-old boy from Hanamkonda whose devotion to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan had made him a local figure has died, leaving his family, neighbours and fans of the actor-politician in mourning.
Ponugoti Niranjan, son of Ponugoti Ramu and Manasa of Pegadapalli Dabbal in Hanamkonda, Greater Warangal, passed away on Tuesday. He had spent the last three years battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a progressive genetic condition that had left him bedridden and caused severe physical complications in his final years.
Niranjan earned the nickname “Gabbar Singh” in his neighbourhood because of how openly and constantly he expressed his admiration for Pawan Kalyan — a devotion so well known locally that the name, borrowed from one of the actor’s biggest hit films, stuck.
That admiration was reciprocated in a small but meaningful way just days before his death. Pawan Kalyan visited Niranjan’s home in person, sitting with the teenager, asking about his health and his interests, and speaking with his family. For a fan who had spent years unable to leave his bed, the visit from the actor he idolised was, by most accounts, one of the last bright moments of his life.
News of Niranjan’s passing spread quickly through fan circles on social media, where tributes and condolence messages began pouring in soon after. Many pointed to the visit itself as a gesture that had given comfort to the family in Niranjan’s final days.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy typically affects boys in early childhood and progressively weakens muscles, often leading to loss of mobility and, in advanced stages, complications affecting the heart and lungs. There is currently no cure, though several treatments can slow its progression.
Niranjan’s family has not issued a public statement beyond confirming the details of his passing.
