Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar, who died at the age of 46 at Bengaluru's Vikram Hospital on Friday, will be cremated with state honours, Manjunatha Prasad, the Principal Secretary to Karnataka Chief Minister announced on Friday, reports news agency ANI. His cremation will take place at the Kanteerava Studio in Bengaluru. Puneeth Rajkumar had been working out in a gym when he suffered a heart attack; he was then taken to the Vikram Hospital. ANI shared a tweet on Friday evening about Puneeth Rajkumar's funeral that read: "The last rites of actor #PuneethRajkumar to be performed with State honours at Kanteerava Studios in Bengaluru: Manjunatha Prasad, Principal Secretary to Karnataka Chief Minister."
Read the tweet here:
Earlier on Friday afternoon, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai mourned Puneeth Rajkumar with these words: "I am deeply shocked that Kannada celebrity Shri Puneeth Rajkumar died of a heart attack. The death of Kannadigar's favourite actor, Appu, has caused enormous loss to Kannada and Karnataka and I pray that God will have mercy on his soul and give his fans the power to endure this pain."
Puneeth Rajkumar was the son of legendary actor Rajkumar. Fan fondly called him "Appu" - after the 2002 film in which he played his first lead role - and "Power Star."
Puneeth Rajkumar began his career as a child artist. When he was six-months-old, he starred in two 1976 films - Premada Kanike and Aarathi. He garnered a whole lot of praise for his performances in Bhakta Prahalada, which also starred his father, Vasantha Geeta and Bhagyavantha.
His role in Bettada Hoovu as a young boy Ramu who assists a researcher to find a rare flower fetched him a National Award for Best Child Actor.
Puneeth's film credits also include Mourya, Arasu, Raam and Anjani Putra. He was also a singer and was admired for his dance skills.
Puneeth was also known as the presenter of Kannadada Kotyadhipathi, the Kannada version of quiz show ho Wants To Be A Millionaire?
He is survived by wife Ashwini Revanth and has two children.
Post your tribute to Puneeth Rajkumar here.
(With PTI inputs)