Puneeth Rajkumar: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Indian Kannada actor and producer(1975–2021)}}

| other_names        = Appu

| spouse            = {{marriage|[[Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar]](Nee Revanth) |1999-2021}}

| children          = 2

Puneeth was nicknamed ''Power Star'' by media and fans. His films as an actor were primarily family dramas and [[action film]]s but the films produced by him under the [[PRK Productions]] banner were of the [[comedy drama]] genre, with the theme of [[family relationships]] and conveying social messages. He appeared as a lead actor in many commercially successful films such as [[Appu (2002 film)|''Appu'']] (2002), [[Abhi (2003 film)|''Abhi'']] (2003), ''[[Veera Kannadiga]]'' (2004),  ''[[Maurya (film)|Mourya]]'' (2004), ''[[Aakash (2005 film)|Aakash]]'' (2005), ''[[Ajay (2006 film)|Ajay]]'' (2006), ''[[Arasu (2007 film)|Arasu]]'' (2007), ''[[Milana (film)|Milana]]'' (2007), ''[[Vamshi (film)|Vamshi]]'' (2008), ''[[Raam (2009 film)|Raam]]'' (2009), ''[[Jackie (2010 film)|Jackie]]'' (2010), ''[[Hudugaru]]'' (2011), ''[[Power (2014 Kannada film)|Power]]'' (2014), ''[[Rana Vikrama]]'' (2015), ''[[Raajakumara]]'' (2017), ''[[Anjani Putra]]'' (2017), ''[[Natasaarvabhowma]] (2019), [[Yuvarathnaa]] (2021)'' and ''[[James (2022 film)|James]]'' (2022). His last silver screen appearance, the [[Docudrama|docu-drama]] ''[[Gandhada Gudi (2022 film)|Gandhada Gudi]]'' where he played himself, was released on 28 October 2022 coincidentally marking his first death anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mybangalore.com/article/1010/superstars-of-the-kannada-film-industry.html |title=Superstars of the Kannada Film Industry |access-date=27 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724104058/http://www.mybangalore.com/article/1010/superstars-of-the-kannada-film-industry.html |archive-date=24 July 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Appu">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Puneeth-to-break-a-record/articleshow/52383671.cms|title=3 films for Puneeth, Puneeth Rajkumar this year|work=The Times of India|last1=Suresh |first1=Sunayana }}</ref>  He was one of the most famous celebrities and one of the highest paid actors in [[Kannada cinema]] of his time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/rajinikanth-pawan-kalyan-top-20-highest-paid-south-indian-actors-2014-617376|title=Top 20 Highest Paid South Indian Actors of 2014|publisher=ibtimes.co.in|work=International Business Times|date=16 December 2014}}</ref> In 2012, he debuted as a television presenter on the game show ''[[Kannadada Kotyadhipati]]'', a Kannada version of ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''.<ref name="Koti" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Puneeth Rajkumar: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday {{!}} eTimes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Puneeth-Rajkumar |access-date=7 January 2021 |work=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chitraloka.com/flash-back/3151-2005-year-round-up.html |title=2005 Year Round Up |publisher=chitraloka.com |date=30 December 2005 |access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref> Post his eye donation, [[Narayana Health|Narayana Nethralaya]] recorded 85,000 pledges within one year as against 65,000 pledges in 28 years.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/puneeths-eye-donation-inspired-over-85000-to-pledge-eyes-over-one-year-2250-eyes-collected/article66070000.ece | title=Puneeth's eye donation inspired over 85,000 to pledge eyes over one year; 2,250 eyes collected | newspaper=The Hindu | date=29 October 2022 | last1=Yasmeen | first1=Afshan }}</ref>

Director [[V. Somashekar]] cast Puneeth (then known as Lohith) onscreen when he was six months old in his thriller film ''[[Premada Kanike]]'' (1976), and ''[[Aarathi (film)|Aarathi]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NQyujXEvcs| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215072805/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NQyujXEvcs| archive-date=15 February 2016 | url-status=dead|title=Naa Bidalare Ninnanu – Premada Kanike – Rajkumar Hits|publisher=YouTube|date=19 July 2011|access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref> This was followed by [[Vijay (director)|Vijay's]] ''[[Sanaadi Appanna]]'' (1977), based on [[Krishnamoorthy Puranik]]'s novel of the same name,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cECm33A1Wao|title=Naane Thaayi Naane Thande – Sanadi Appanna (1977) – Kannada|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=12 July 2012}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> when Puneeth was one year old. ''[[Thayige Thakka Maga]]'' (1978) was again directed by V. Somashekar and starred his father. Two years later, directors [[Dorai–Bhagavan]] cast him as Shyam in ''[[Vasantha Geetha]]'' (1980). This was followed by [[K. S. L. Swamy]]'s mythological drama ''[[Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha]]'' (1981, appearing as [[Lord Krishna]]) and [[B. S. Ranga]]'s ''[[Bhagyavantha]]'' (1982),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Puneeth-Rajkumar|title=Puneeth Rajkumar: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday {{!}} eTimes|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=11 June 2019}}</ref> in which he recorded his first popular song: "Baana Daariyalli Soorya", composed by [[T. G. Lingappa]]. That year, he appeared in two hit films (''[[Chalisuva Modagalu]]'' and ''[[Hosa Belaku]]'') with his father. For the former, Puneeth received his first [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Child Actor (Male)]]. In 1983, he appeared in two mythological films: [[Bhakta Prahlada (1983 film)|''Bhakta Prahlada'']] as the protagonist, Prahlada, and ''[[Eradu Nakshatragalu]]'', for which he received his second Karnataka State Film Award for Best Child Actor.<ref name="The News Minute Everyone">{{cite news |title=Everyone's Appu: Recalling Puneeth Rajkumar's contributions to cinema |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/everyones-appu-recalling-puneeth-rajkumars-contributions-cinema-157077 |access-date=30 October 2021 |work=The News Minute |date=30 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2016, Puneeth worked for M. Saravanan's [[Chakravyuha (2016 film)|''Chakravyuha'']] and Duniya Soori's ''[[Doddmane Hudga]]''. In 2017, he appeared in [[Santhosh Ananddram]] 's ''[[Raajakumara]]'', which broke all-records in box-office and became the highest-grossing Kannada-language film of all time beating previous record of ''[[Mungaru Male]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sudeep-yash-upendra-jaggesh-join-puneeths-raajakumara-100-day-celebration-732967|title=Sudeep, Yash, Upendra, Jaggesh to join Puneeth's Raajakumara 100-day celebration|first=Prakash|last=Upadhyaya|date=1 July 2017|website=International Business Times, India Edition}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/rajakumara-100-all-time-industry-hit-kannada-news-188991.html|title=Rajakumara 100, all time industry hit|date=30 June 2017|website=indiaglitz.com|access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref> later the record was taken up by the movie ''[[K.G.F: Chapter 1]]''. He also had the starring role in [[Harsha (director)|A Harsha]]'s ''[[Anjani Putra]]'' alongside [[Rashmika Mandanna]], which was a remake of Tamil film ''[[Poojai]]''.

On 29 October 2021, Puneeth complained of uneasiness to his wife Ashwini, and died on his way to a hospital in [[Bengaluru]] at the age of 46. The reason for his death was declared to be [[Myocardial infarction|cardiac arrest]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Puneeth Rajkumar passes away at 46 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/puneeth-rajkumar-dead-at-46-7596693/ |work=The Indian Express |date=29 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref> He [[Corneal transplantation|donated his eyes]] at Narayana Nethralaya Eye Hospital [https://www.narayananethralaya.org] accordance with a pledge by his father Rajkumar, that he along with all his family members will donate their eyes after death.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 October 2021 |title=Like father, like son: Puneeth Rajkumar donates eyes |language=en |work=Deccan Herald |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/like-father-like-son-puneeth-rajkumar-donates-eyes-1045640.html |access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref> The donation of his eyes has given eyesight to four different people.<ref>{{cite news |title=Puneeth Rajkumars parting gift eyesight for 4 people message for all|work=NDTV |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/puneeth-rajkumars-parting-gift-eyesight-for-4-people-message-for-all-2598510}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Puneeth Rajkumar donated his eyes which have helped 4 people gain vision|work=ThePrint |url=https://theprint.in/health/late-kannada-star-puneeth-rajkumar-donated-his-eyes-which-have-helped-4-people-gain-vision/760538/}}</ref> His [[state funeral]] was attended by the [[Chief Minister of Karnataka]], [[Basavaraj Bommai]] and other leaders.<ref name="Final Salute" />

There was a wave of mourning in entire Karnataka due to his death. Section 144 was implemented in many areas to control the fans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murakami |first=Olivia |date=2021-10-29 |title=Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar dies of heart attack during workout, section 144 in Karnataka |url=https://www.ayupp.com/news/kannada-star-puneeth-rajkumar-dies-of-heart-attack-section-144-in-karnataka-16355.html |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=www.ayupp.com}}</ref>

His body was kept for public view at Kanteerava stadium for 2 days, and was reportedly attended by more than 30 Lakh people<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/25-lakh-people-were-seen-puneeth-in-kantheerava-stadium-says-araga-jnanendra-and-cm-bommai-says-thanks-to-all-spr-290762.html | title=Puneeth Rajkumar: ಸುಮಾರು 25 ಲಕ್ಷ ಜನರಿಂದ ಪುನೀತ್ ಅಂತಿಮ ದರ್ಶನ; ಎಲ್ಲರ ಸಹಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಎಂ ಬೊಮ್ಮಾಯಿ ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆ | date=31 October 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=31 October 2021 |title=Family, fans bid Puneeth Rajkumar tearful farewell |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/wouldve-been-better-if-i-had-died-instead-of-puneeth-veteran-actor-sarath-kumar-4454219.html |access-date=31 October 2021 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> and was the one of the largest funeral gathering{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} in Indian history of funerals. He was buried alongside his parents at Sree Kanteerava Studios in Bangalore.<ref name="Final Salute">{{cite news |title="Final Salute": Actor Puneeth Rajkumar Paid Last Respects In Karnataka |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-puneeth-rajkumar-paid-last-respects-in-karnataka-final-salute-says-chief-minister-basavaraj-bommai-2594207 |work=NDTV.com |date=31 October 2021}}</ref>

After the eye initiative of Puneeth Rajkumar, there was a sudden increase in the eye donations across Karnataka that gave a boost and awareness amongst the people of [[Karnataka|the State]]. The doctors of Narayana Nethralaya that runs Dr. Rajkumar's eye bank has mentioned that from the eye bank's inauguration, there was 76,000 eye pledges in total for 30 years. After November 2021, there is a huge number of one lakh eye donations registered in the last 10 months alone.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Correspondent |first=Special |date=2022-09-05 |title=One lakh pledge eyes following Puneeth Rajkumar's death|work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/one-lakh-pledge-eyes-following-puneeth-rajkumars-death/article65853844.ece |access-date=2023-01-24 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

* He was posthumously conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Filmfare Awards.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oneindia.com/bengaluru/filmfare-awards-appu-honoured-with-lifetime-achievement-award-posthumous-kannada-winners-list-3472248.html|title=Filmfare Awards: Appu honoured with 'Lifetime Achievement Award' (posthumous); Kannada winners' list|work=One India|access-date=20 March 2023|date=10 October 2022}}</ref>