Puneeth Rajkumar: Why Bengaluru Still Lines Up to Say Goodbye to Appu

“He smiled like the boy next door, danced like nobody else in Kannada cinema, and gave away more than anyone knew.”

• How his fans describe Appu

Puneeth Rajkumar was a Kannada film actor, singer, producer and television host, and the youngest son of Dr Rajkumar. Known to fans as Appu and the Power Star, he won a National Film Award as a child artist for Bettada Hoovu, made his debut as a lead in Appu in 2002, and became one of the most popular stars in Karnataka. He died of a cardiac arrest in Bengaluru on October 29, 2021, aged 46, and was posthumously awarded the Karnataka Ratna.

I remember the day he died. Offices emptied, shops pulled down their shutters, and the roads around Kanteerava Stadium filled with people who had come simply to be near him one last time. Five years later his face is still on autos, bike tanks and bakery walls, often right beside his father's. The city has not moved on, and I am not sure it intends to.

This profile sticks to what is well established about his life and work. It is his Bangalore story: the child star, the Power Star, the quiet philanthropist, and the eye donation that changed how Karnataka thinks about giving.

Who Was Puneeth Rajkumar?

He was the youngest of Dr Rajkumar's five children and grew up on film sets. As a child actor he appeared in several of his father's films and won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for Bettada Hoovu in 1985. After a long break from acting, he returned as a lead in Appu in 2002, and the film's success made him a star in his own right.

• Child star. Films like Chalisuva Modagalu, Eradu Nakshatragalu and Bettada Hoovu made him a familiar face before he was a teenager.
• The comeback. Appu (2002) was a major hit, and its title became his nickname.
• The run. Abhi, Arasu, Milana, Jackie and Hudugaru established him as one of Kannada cinema's most bankable leads.
• Raajakumara (2017). A family drama that became one of the biggest Kannada hits of its time.
• Dancer. He was widely regarded as the best dancer in Kannada cinema, and his fight and dance sequences were a big part of his appeal.

What Was Puneeth Rajkumar Known For Off Screen?

For a reputation of generosity that was mostly kept out of the news during his lifetime. After his death, reports described support for schools, orphanages, old age homes and animal shelters, much of it quiet and long running. He was also known for donating his earnings from singing to charity.

On television he hosted Kannadada Kotyadhipati, the Kannada version of the quiz show format, which brought him into living rooms across the state in a different way. He also set up PRK Productions to back new Kannada films and talent.

“People only found out how much he gave when he was gone. That is why they cried the way they did.”

• A fan outside Kanteerava Stadium, 2021

What Happened When Puneeth Rajkumar Died?

He died on October 29, 2021, after a cardiac arrest, at a hospital in Bengaluru. The news stopped the city. His body was kept at Kanteerava Stadium for the public to pay their respects, and very large crowds came. He was buried at Kanteerava Studios, beside his parents, on October 31.

The response was unlike anything the city had seen since his father's death in 2006. Fans held vigils, community groups organised blood and eye donation camps, and his photo appeared at Rajyotsava celebrations across Karnataka that November.

How Did Puneeth Rajkumar Change Eye Donation in Karnataka?

His family donated his eyes, following a tradition started by his father, and his corneas were used to restore the sight of four people. In the weeks after his death, eye banks in Bengaluru and across Karnataka reported a large surge in people pledging their eyes. It remains one of the most striking examples of a public figure changing behaviour by example.

Did Puneeth Rajkumar Sing in Films?

Yes. Like his father, he was a playback singer as well as an actor, and he sang songs for his own films and for other actors' films. His singing added to his popularity, and he was known for donating the fees he earned from singing to charitable causes.

How Does Puneeth Fit Into the Rajkumar Family's Film Legacy?

He was part of one of the most important families in Kannada cinema. His father Dr Rajkumar was the industry's biggest star, his mother Parvathamma Rajkumar produced many successful films, and his elder brothers Shivarajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar are also actors. Puneeth was the youngest, and for many fans he carried his father's warmth into a new generation.

• Parvathamma Rajkumar. A major producer whose banners made many of the family's films.
• Shivarajkumar. The eldest son, a leading Kannada star for decades.
• Raghavendra Rajkumar. Actor and producer.
• PRK Productions. The production house Puneeth set up to back new Kannada films and talent.

Where Can You See Puneeth Rajkumar's Legacy in Bengaluru?

At his memorial in Kanteerava Studios, on the Outer Ring Road stretch named after him, and on the autos and walls of the city. The memorial sees a steady stream of visitors every day, and crowds on his birth and death anniversaries.

• The memorial. Kanteerava Studios, north west Bengaluru, beside the samadhis of Dr Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar.
• Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Road. A stretch of the Outer Ring Road was named after him by the city in 2022.
• Gandhada Gudi. The wildlife documentary he worked on, released in 2022, exploring the forests and wildlife of Karnataka.
• His films. Available on streaming platforms and still shown regularly on Kannada television.
• March 17. His birthday, marked by fans across the city with food distribution, blood donation camps and screenings.

Which Puneeth Rajkumar Films Should You Watch First?

Start with Bettada Hoovu, then Appu, then Raajakumara. That gives you the award-winning child actor, the breakout star and the mature leading man in three evenings.

• Bettada Hoovu (1985). The national award-winning performance as a boy in the Western Ghats who dreams of buying a set of books.
• Appu (2002). The debut as a lead, and the film that gave him his nickname.
• Milana (2007). A romantic drama that became one of his most loved films.
• Raajakumara (2017). The family drama that became one of his biggest hits.
• Gandhada Gudi (2022). The documentary, and the last time audiences saw him on screen.

What Can Bangaloreans Learn From Puneeth Rajkumar?

That the most lasting kind of generosity is the kind nobody sees. He was a star who could have made his giving part of his brand and chose not to. The practical lesson is even simpler, and thousands of Bangaloreans have already taken it: pledge your eyes, and tell your family.

Why Does Puneeth Rajkumar Belong in People of Bangalore?

Same city, new stories, always.

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