RIP Puneeth Rajkumar: Lesser known facts about the Kannada actor

Puneeth Rajkumar is one of Kannada cinema’s most accomplished performers, having made a reputation for himself through his acting, dancing, anchoring, and humanitarian efforts. He is the youngest son of famed actor Dr. Rajkumar, better known in Karnataka as “Annavru.”

Puneeth passed away on Friday following a cardiac arrest.

Here are some intriguing facts about the power star that you might like learning about.

• Appu: In the Kannada cinema industry, Puneeth is known as Appu, a nickname given to him by his fans after the film Appu. Puneeth made his acting debut in this film as a leading man. The protagonist character’s name was ‘Appu,’ and the picture was a hit when it was released in 2002.
• Lohith: Puneeth was born in Chennai and went by the name Lohith as a child. He is the youngest one among his brothers Shiva Rajkumar a well known actor and Raghavendra Rajkumar actor and producer.
• Many people are unaware that Puneeth made his first appearance on screen when he was only six months old. Along with his father, Dr. Rajkumar, he participated in the 1976 film Premada Kanike. The movie was a box office smash.
• Puneeth won a national award for best child artist for his role in N. Lakshminarayan’s film Bettada Hoovu, which is based on Shirley L Arora’s novel ‘What then, Raman?’ Puneeth portrayed the naive Ramu in the film.
• Everyone knows Puneeth, like his father Dr. Rajkumar, is a talented professional vocalist. He recorded his debut song, “Baana Daariyalli Soorya,” when he was six years old, composed by well-known musician T.G. Lingappa. It was taken from the 1982 film Bhagyavantha.
• Puneeth won his first Karnataka State Film Award for Best Child Artist in 1982-83 for the film Chalisuva Modagalu.