Actor and filmmaker Rishab Shetty paid tribute to late Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar on the fifth anniversary of his death. Puneeth, fondly known as ‘Appu’ and ‘Power Star’, remains one of the most loved actors in Kannada cinema.
Rishab Shetty remembers Puneeth Rajkumar
Rishab shared a picture of Puneeth on Instagram and remembered the actor with an emotional message in Kannada. He wrote, “Remembering Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar. ಅಪ್ಪು ಅಜರಾಮರ. ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದ ನಗು, ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದ ನೆನಪುಗಳು… ಸದಾ ನಮ್ಮ ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀವಂತ. #PuneethRajkumar”The message translates to, “Remembering Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar. Appu is immortal. An unforgettable smile, unforgettable memories… Always alive in our hearts.”
Who was Puneeth Rajkumar?
Puneeth was the youngest son of legendary Kannada actor Dr. Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar. He began his career as a child artist and appeared in films such as ‘Premada Kanike’ and ‘Bettada Hoovu’. His performance in Bettada Hoovu earned him the National Film Award for Best Child Artist in 1985.The played the lead in 2002 film ‘Appu’, which became a major success with other films including ‘Milana’, ‘Jackie’ and many more.Additionally, Puneeth was a playback singer and television host. He hosted the Kannada version of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, titled ‘Kannadada Kotyadhipati’.Apart from his work in the entertainment industry, Puneeth was also widely admired for his humility and charitable work. He supported orphanages, old-age homes and schools, and reportedly sponsored the education of hundreds of students.He died on October 29, 2021, at the age of 46 after suffering a cardiac arrest. His sudden death shocked fans across the country, and thousands gathered in Bengaluru to pay their last respects.
Rishab Shetty’s upcoming films
Meanwhile, Rishab Shetty is preparing for his upcoming mythological epic ‘Jai Hanuman’, directed by HanuMan filmmaker Prasanth Varma. Rishab is set to portray Lord Hanuman, while Rana Daggubati is also part of the cast. Teja Sajja is expected to make a special appearance.He will also play the lead role in the period drama ‘The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’, directed by Sandeep Singh.Rishab Shetty was last seen in ‘Kantara Chapter 1’.
