Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar dies at 46
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said ‘a cruel twist of fate’ had taken him away.
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Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar died in Bengaluru on Friday after suffering a heart attack. He was 46 years old.
The actor was exercising in a gym when he had the heart attack, according to NDTV. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru.
“We put him on a ventilator and tried to revive him, but all efforts failed,” a doctor at the hospital said, according to The Hindu.
Politicians and fellow actors grieved Puneeth Rajkumar’s death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “a cruel twist of fate” had taken the “prolific and talented” actor away.
“This was no age to go,” Modi tweeted. “The coming generations will remember him fondly for his works and wonderful personality. Condolences to his family and admirers.”
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. pic.twitter.com/ofcNpnMmW3
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 29, 2021
Puneeth Rajkumar, also known as “Appu” by his fans, was the youngest son of iconic actor Rajkumar and producer Parvathamma. He had acted in more than 29 Kannada movies as the lead and had also worked as a child actor, reported News18.
His films include Appu (2002), Abhi (2003), Veera Kannadiga and Mourya (2004), Aakash (2005), Ajay (2006), Arasu and Milana (2007), Vamshi (2008), Raam (2009), Jackie (2010), Hudugaru (2011), Raajakumara and Anjani Putra (2017).
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the artiste’s death was personal loss and one that was “difficult to come to terms with”. “Praying the almighty gives the Rajkumar family and fans the strength to bear this loss,” he wrote in a post on Twitter.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said his death was “a great loss for Karnataka”.
Karnataka minister Ashwathnarayan CN confirmed the actor’s death in a Twitter post written in Kannada. “He had accomplished immensely from early age,” his statement read. “It is difficult to believe that he, who has always been backbone of constructive programs, is no more.”
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed her condolences. “A bright star,” she said in a tweet. “He had a long promising career ahead. My condolences to his family, his innumerable fans and followers.”
Condolences on the passing away of #PuneethRajkumar. A bright star. He had a long promising career ahead.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) October 29, 2021
My condolences to his family, his innumerable fans and followers. pic.twitter.com/8Gv4G4vrnz
Puneeth Rajkumar’s last rites will take place on Saturday, The Hindu reported. On Friday, his fans gathered outside the hospital where he was admitted. Additional police forces were deployed near the building.
His remains will be kept at Kanteerava Stadium.
His brother Raghavendra Rajkumar and state Revenue Minister R Ashok appealed to the actor’s fans to remain peaceful in their grief, The Hindu reported. “We need to send him [Puneet] back with love,” Raghavendra Rajkumar said. “Film actors don’t die. Their art speaks for them.”
After his death, the city administration banned the sale of alcohol upto midnight on October 31.
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#PuneethRajkumar Massive crowd outside Vikram Hospital in Bangalore where Puneeth Rajkumar is undergoing treatment post a heart attack today pic.twitter.com/Uy5KgCeXqC
— Rahul Jaiswal (@Rahul22578409) October 29, 2021
Actors Yash, Darshan and Ravichandran, filmmaker Yograj Bhat and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy were among those who had visited the hospital before the news of his death was released, reported The Hindu.
Actor Dulquer Salmaan said that Rajkumar was “one of the kindest and warmest actors/gentlemen”.
Actor and producer Nivin Pauly wrote on Twitter that he was “deeply saddened to hear the news, and offered his condolences to Rajkumar’s family, friends and fans.
A few other tributes:
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
Heartbreaking news! Gone too soon. #PuneethRajkumar
— Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) October 29, 2021
My condolences to his family and his fans. You will be missed.
Ahh Noooo .. Gone too soon my dear Appu. I’m shattered .. Heart broken .. not fair #BlackFriday #PuneethRajkumar
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) October 29, 2021
Shocking ,devastating & heartbreaking! #PuneethRajkumar gone too soon. 💔
— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) October 29, 2021
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!
This is so heart breaking.. RIP #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/Wh6QNRXT4B
— Arya (@arya_offl) October 29, 2021
It aches beyond words could ever express. Puneeth 💔 #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/t3sSeOh52W
— Parvathy Thiruvothu (@parvatweets) October 29, 2021