Puneeth Rajkumar(1975-2021)

Puneeth Rajkumar colloquially known as Appu, King Appu, and Power Star was an Indian actor, playback singer, television presenter, philanthropist, and producer who worked in Kannada films.

At the age of six months, Rajkumar was seen on the big screen as a child artist in the thriller Premada Kanike (1976). The film's director, V. Somasekhar selected him for a role, with his father playing the male lead. The following year, when Rajkumar was just one year old, he was cast in Sanadhi Appanna (1977), another film featuring his father in the lead role, alongside Jaya Prada and T.N. Balakrishna.

Between 1976 and 1989, Rajkumar featured in multiple films and established himself as a successful child actor. In 1981, he acted and recorded his first hit song "Baana Daariyalli Soorya" in the film in the film Bhagyavantha (1981). The song was composed by T.G. Lingappa.

Rajkumar was awarded the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Child Actor (Male) for his performance in Chelisuva Modagalu (1982). He also received his second Karnataka State Film Award in the same category for his role in Eradu Nakshatragalu (1983).

Rajkumar's biggest breakthrough as a child actor came with the film Bettada Hoovu (1985). which was adapted from the novel "What Then, Raman?" by Shirley L. Arora. He was honored with the award for Best Child Artist at the 33rd National Film Awards.

During his early teens, Rajkumar acted in Shiva Mecchida Kannappa (1988) along with his father and sibling Shivarajkumar. His last role as a child actor was in Parashuram (1989), where he shared screen space with his father.

In 1994, Rajkumar joined his family's production house Vajreshwari Combines, as a manager.

As a lead, Rajkumar made his debut in Appu (2002) opposite Rakshitha. The film was a box office success. Following this, Rajkumar appeared in many commercially successful films as a lead actor, such as Abhi (2003), Veera Kannadiga (2004), Ajay (2006), Arasu (2007), Vamshi (2008), Jackie (2010), Hudugaru (2011), Rana Vikrama (2015), Raajakumara (2017), Natasaarvabhowma (2019), and James (2022).

Rajkumar's final appearance on the big screen was in Gandhada Gudi (2022), a docudrama in which he played himself. The film was released on October 28, 2022, just a day before his first death anniversary.

Apart from acting, Rajkumar made his mark in professional singing too. He sang for movies like Appu (2002), Lava Kusha (2007), Vamshi (2008), Jackie (2010), Mylari (2010), and Akira (2016).

On the small screen, Rajkumar hosted the game show Kannadada Kotyadhipathi (2012). The show was modelled on the American game show, 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' He also hosted Family Power (2017), a reality show on Colors Kannada.

In his career spanning three decades, Rajkumar won several awards, including one National Film Award, six Filmfare Awards South, four Karnataka State Film Awards, and five SIIMA Awards.

Rajkumar was awarded an honorary doctorate posthumously by the University of Mysuru (Mysore) (UoM). He was conferred Karnataka Ratna, the highest civilian award in the state, by the Karnataka Government on November 1, 2022.

Rajkumar died on October 29, 2021, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, after suffering a heart attack.