Bengaluru, October 29
Kannada cinema’s reigning star and celebrity television host Puneeth Rajkumar, known for films such as “Appu”, “Veera Kannadiga” and “Maurya”, died here on Friday following a massive heart attack, hospital sources said. He was 46.
Puneeth, who was known to be a fitness enthusiast, was rushed to the Vikram Hospital after he complained of chest pain, following a two-hour workout at the gym, doctors treating him said. He died shortly after.
He is survived by wife Ashwini Revanth and two daughters Dhriti and Vanditha.
Restless crowds of stunned fans milled around the hospital complex as news came in of the sudden death of the actor, the son of matinee idol Rajkumar who fast outgrew his father’s shadow to make a place for himself in the Kannada showbiz industry.
Puneeth’s body will be kept at the Kanteerava Stadium to enable the public to pay their last respects, state minister R Ashoka told reporters. He said Puneeth’s last rites will be performed with full state honours and the family will decide when it will happen.
According to a statement from the Vikram Hospital earlier in the day, Puneeth was taken to the emergency department “… with history of chest pain at 11:40 am, he was non-responsive… advanced cardiac resuscitation has been initiated”.
This hurts so much! Rest in peace superstar! May the family, friends and the millions of fans have the strength to tide through this sorrow! #PuneethRajkumar 🙏 pic.twitter.com/45EltouKWw
— Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) October 29, 2021
Saddened to hear about the passing away of #PuneethRajkumar . Warm , and humble, his passing away is a great blow to Indian cinema. May his soul attain sadgati. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/YywkotiWqC
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 29, 2021
Extremely sad to know of the passing away of our dear #PuneethRajkumar . My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. I request his fans to maintain calm and pray for his Sadgati in this excruciating time for the family. Om Shanti 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/T3WsUnBS7n
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) October 29, 2021
Heartbroken 💔
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) October 29, 2021
Will always miss you my brother. #PuneethRajkumar
Deeply shocked to know of the sudden demise of @PuneethRajkumar A powerful actor who won the hearts of people with his incredible body of work. Condolences to the family #RIP #Gonetoosoon #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/YuP08U2t8E
— Boney Kapoor (@BoneyKapoor) October 29, 2021
Shocking and Heart breaking to know that Puneeth is no more. It is a huge loss for the film fraternity. My deepest condolences to Puneeth's family and loved ones.
— Mammootty (@mammukka) October 29, 2021
RIP #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/Rx8smL9NtW
Shocked and deeply saddened on the passing of #PuneethRajkumar the film industry has lost a gem. One of the finest human being I’ve met. So vibrant and humble.Gone too soon. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable fans. 🙏🏽
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) October 29, 2021
It aches beyond words could ever express. Puneeth 💔 #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/t3sSeOh52W
— Parvathy Thiruvothu (@parvatweets) October 29, 2021
Condolences at the death of the actor, who began his career as a child artist appearing in movies such as “Thayige Thakka Maga” and “Bhagyavantha”, poured in from political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, colleagues in the southern film industry as well as those in Bollywood—their messages echoing his legions of fans grieving the hero who had gone too soon.
Sharing a picture with the actor and his family, the prime minister said, “A cruel twist of fate has snatched away from us a prolific and talented actor, Puneeth Rajkumar. This was no age to go. The coming generations will remember him fondly for his works and wonderful personality. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.” Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was among the first to condole the death.
“A huge personal loss and one that’s difficult to come to terms with. Praying the almighty gives the Rajkumar family and fans the strength to bear this loss.” he tweeted,” the chief minister said.
Bommai said the actor was supposed to meet him on Friday to plan Kannada Rajyotsava on November 1.
“But the destiny had something else in story. Instead on meeting me, he went somewhere else. This is extremely shocking,” the CM told reporters.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also paid her condolences.
“A bright star. He had a long promising career ahead. My condolences to his family, his innumerable fans and followers,” she posted on Twitter.
Former chief ministers Siddaramaiah, B S Yediyurappa and S M Krishna also condoled the actor’s death.
After a stint as a child actor, Puneeth made his debut as a leading man in the 2002 movie “Appu” and followed it up with a string of successful movies, including “Abhi”,”Maurya”, “Ajay” and “Arasu”.
Puneeth was also a popular celebrity host on television. He hosted the first two seasons of “Kannadada Kotyadhipati”, the Kannada version of Amitabh Bachchan’s “Kaun Banega Crorepati”. He also emceed Colors Kannada’s reality show “Family Power”.
Colleagues such as Chiranjeevi, Mahesh Babu, Prakash Raj as well as Abhishek Bachchan and Sonu Sood posted their condolences on Twitter and other social platforms.
“Ahh Noooo .. Gone too soon my dear Appu. I’m shattered .. Heart broken .. not fair #BlackFriday #PuneethRajkumar,” Prakash Raj said on Twitter.
“Shocking, devastating & heartbreaking! #PuneethRajkumar gone too soon. Rest in Peace! My deepest sympathies and tearful condolences to the family. A huge loss to the Kannada / Indian film fraternity as a whole.Strength to all to cope with this tragic loss!” added Chiranjeevi.
Actor Parvathy Thiruvothu shared a throwback photograph with Puneeth from one of their films.
“It aches beyond words could ever express. Puneeth Broken heart #PuneethRajkumar” she captioned the picture.
Actor-producer Prithviraj Sukumaran said he was heartbroken.
“This hurts so much! Rest in peace superstar! May the family, friends and the millions of fans have the strength to tide through this sorrow! #PuneethRajkumar Folded hands.”
Mahesh Babu said Puneeth’s sudden demise has left him “shocked and deeply saddened” and recalled Puneeth as being one of the most humble people he had met.
“Heartbreaking news! Gone too soon. #PuneethRajkumar My condolences to his family and his fans. You will be missed,” said Abhishek Bachchan.
Singer Shreya Ghoshal said the actor’s death has left her devastated.
“This can’t be true! Devastated to hear this. #PuneethRajkumar. A humble superstar, so young, at the pinnacle of his life simply left the world. My deepest heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans. Om Shanti,” she wrote. PTI
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