Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar's death on Friday left the film fraternity "shocked" and "devastated" - the actor died at a Bengaluru hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was 46. Since his death, social media has been deluged by tributes and condolence tweets, mourning Puneeth Rajkumar, from the likes of Chiranjeevi, Kamal Haasan, Mahesh Babu, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tamannaah Bhatia, Dulquer Salmaan, among others. In his tweet, Chiranjeevi described Puneeth Rajkumar's death as a "huge loss" to the film fraternity: "Shocking, devastating and heartbreaking! Puneeth Rajkumar gone too soon. Rest in Peace! My deepest sympathies and tearful condolences to the family. A huge loss to the Kannada / Indian film fraternity as a whole. Strength to all to cope with this tragic loss!"
Shocking ,devastating & heartbreaking! #PuneethRajkumar gone too soon. ????
— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) October 29, 2021
Rest in Peace! My deepest sympathies and tearful condolences to the family. A huge loss to the Kannada / Indian film fraternity as a whole.Strength to all to cope with this tragic loss!
Describing Puneeth as his "younger brother," Kamal Haasan wrote: "The demise of my dear younger brother Puneeth Rajkumar was most unexpected.We were mutually very fond of each other. My deepest sympathy to his family and his fans in Karnataka."
The demise of my dear younger brother Puneeth Rajkumar was most unexpected.We were mutually very fond of each other. My deepest sympathy to his family and his fans in Karnataka.(1/2)#PuneethRajkumar
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) October 29, 2021
Superstar Mohanlal, who shares a close rapport with the late actor's family, still finds it "hard to believe": "The loss of Puneeth Rajkumar has come as a terrible shock. I still find the news hard to believe. It feels as though I have lost a younger brother. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family with whom I share a close bond. I wish them strength and comfort to cope with this loss."
The loss of Puneeth Rajkumar has come as a terrible shock. I still find the news hard to believe. It feels as though I have lost a younger brother. My thoughts & prayers go out to his family with whom I share a close bond. I wish them strength & comfort to cope with this loss. pic.twitter.com/x8GDRNPx7d
— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) October 29, 2021
"It is shocking and heartbreaking to hear this news!! May his soul rest in peace," tweeted Nagarjuna.
My deepest condolences to the family of Puneeth Rajkumar!! It is shocking and heartbreaking to hear this news!! May his soul rest in peace???? @NimmaShivanna #ripPuneethrajkumar
— Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) October 29, 2021
"Shocking and heart-breaking to know that Puneeth is no more. It is a huge loss for the film fraternity," tweeted Mammootty:
Shocking and Heart breaking to know that Puneeth is no more. It is a huge loss for the film fraternity. My deepest condolences to Puneeth's family and loved ones.
— Mammootty (@mammukka) October 29, 2021
RIP #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/Rx8smL9NtW
Mourning Puneeth Rajkumar, Mahesh Babu tweeted: "Shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic news of Puneeth Rajkumar's demise. One of the most humble people I've met and interacted with. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones."
Shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic news of Puneeth Rajkumar's demise. One of the most humble people I've met and interacted with. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones ????
— Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) October 29, 2021
An emotional tweet from Prithviraj Sukumaran read: "This hurts so much! Rest in peace superstar! May the family, friends and the millions of fans have the strength to tide through this sorrow!"
This hurts so much! Rest in peace superstar! May the family, friends and the millions of fans have the strength to tide through this sorrow! #PuneethRajkumar ???? pic.twitter.com/45EltouKWw
— Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) October 29, 2021
Dhanush tweeted several broken hearts, in the memory of his "friend" Puneeth Rajkumar:
Puneet my friend ???????? This is so heartbreaking. Rest in peace my friend. Hope you are in a better place. My heartfelt condolences to his family , friends and fans.
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) October 29, 2021
In his tribute, Mammootty's son actor Dulquer Salmaan described Puneeth Rajkumar as "One of the kindest and warmest actors/gentlemen," and added: "Praying to the almighty to give Puneeth Sir's family, friends and his ocean of fans the strength to cope with this irreplaceable loss."
???????????? One of the kindest and warmest Actors/gentlemen. Praying to the almighty to give Puneeth Sirs family, friends and his ocean of fans the strength to cope with this irreplaceable loss. #RIP #PuneethRajKumar #Gentleman #actor #loss #cannotunderstand #soyoung pic.twitter.com/U8RyOJdFMu
— dulquer salmaan (@dulQuer) October 29, 2021
Actresses Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Tamannaah Bhatia, Parvathy, Pooja Hegde, Hansika Motwani and Lakshmi Manchu mourned Puneeth Rajkumar in heart-wrenching tweets. "Gone too soon," posted Samantha. "Shocked, saddened and in loss of words," Tamannaah's tweet summed up the general emotion on social media. "I just can't process this!" added Hansika Motwani.
Shocked, saddened and in loss of words. ????#PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/I6thuUN8K1
— Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) October 29, 2021
It aches beyond words could ever express. Puneeth ???? #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/t3sSeOh52W
— Parvathy Thiruvothu (@parvatweets) October 29, 2021
OMG!!!!!!!! Nooooooo. This can't be true! How can this be? My deepest condolences to the family. May your soul rest in eternal peace. Gone too soon ???? #PuneethRajkumar
— Lakshmi Manchu (@LakshmiManchu) October 29, 2021
Met him when he was the guest for my first ever film's pre release event. He was so kind and had this great energy about him. Very sad. My heart goes out to his fans too during this time. #puneetrajkumar https://t.co/AKPiWpAbji
— Pooja Hegde (@hegdepooja) October 29, 2021
I just can't process this!! Such a passionate ,warm and humble human being !! this is so tragic . Deepest condolence to his family .may his soul rest in peace ???? #PuneethRajkumar
— Hansika (@ihansika) October 29, 2021
R Madhavan poured his heart out in a tweet, writing: "Gone - one of our kindest, nicest and noble soul. I don' know what I am feeling. I am feeling so devastated. Brother you have left us very confused and heartbroken. The heavens are brighter today. I am still hoping this is not true". Sonu Sood tweeted: "Will always miss you my brother."
GONE- one of our KINDEST, NICEST AND NOBLE soul. I don' know what I am feeling . I am feeling so devastated. Brother you have left us very confused and heartbroken. The heavens are brighter today. I am still hoping this is not true . ???????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/7wjXZzk0ND
— Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) October 29, 2021
Heartbroken ????
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) October 29, 2021
Will always miss you my brother. #PuneethRajkumar
Actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar paid tribute to Puneeth Rajkumar with a photo of the late Kannada star as her profile picture on Twitter.
When someone as wonderful as you leaves us completely heartbroken and shattered. #Appu #RIP #PuneethRajkumar#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/UzduncKrh8
— KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) October 29, 2021
Actor Prakash Raj, along with filmmakers SS Rajamouli, Raj and DK, and Boney Kapoor, remembered Puneeth Rajkumar in the fondest of words: "Gone too soon my dear Appu," read Prakash Raj's tweet.
Shocked to hear about Puneeth passing away. Such a young and vibrant personality gone so soon. Met him just a couple of times. But can never forget his hospitality, humble and down to earth nature. My prayers and strength to his family and loved ones.
— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) October 29, 2021
Ahh Noooo .. Gone too soon my dear Appu. I'm shattered .. Heart broken .. not fair #BlackFriday #PuneethRajkumar
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) October 29, 2021
Heartbreaking!!!#PuneethRajkumar ???? pic.twitter.com/WcZQBEtqwC
— Raj & DK (@rajndk) October 29, 2021
Deeply shocked to know of the sudden demise of @PuneethRajkumar A powerful actor who won the hearts of people with his incredible body of work. Condolences to the family #RIP #Gonetoosoon #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/YuP08U2t8E
— Boney Kapoor (@BoneyKapoor) October 29, 2021
Tweets of condolence, mourning Puneeth Rajkumar, also arrived from the likes of Varun Tej, Arya, Tovino Thomas, Ram Pothineni, Gautham Karthik, Manobala, among others. "Shell shocked," read an excerpt from Varun Tej's tweet. Actor Siddharth added: "I cannot process this."
Shell shocked!
— Varun Tej Konidela ???? (@IAmVarunTej) October 29, 2021
My deepest condolences to Puneeth rajkumar sir's family and fans..
So unfortunate.
Om Shanti!???????? pic.twitter.com/QAhss18QYG
I cannot process this. Cannot believe you've left us Puneeth. Kind, gifted, fearless...so much to give to the world. This is not fair brother. Heartbroken.
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) October 29, 2021
This is so heart breaking.. RIP #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/Wh6QNRXT4B
— Arya (@arya_offl) October 29, 2021
Gone too soon brother ????
— Tovino Thomas (@ttovino) October 29, 2021
Rest in peace! #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/ZSwOoUcWYZ
One of the most humble and down to earth actors I've come across..Rest in Peace brother. #PuneethRajkumar
— RAm POthineni (@ramsayz) October 29, 2021
So hard to believe that #PuneethRajkumar sir is no more!
— Gautham Karthik (@Gautham_Karthik) October 29, 2021
Loosing such a talented actor is a hard hit for Indian Cinema.
My heartfelt condolences to his family.
May he R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/l9J12weDcO
OMG ! Kannada super hero #PuneethRajkumar passed away today. #RIPPunneethRajkumar Due to Heart attack. pic.twitter.com/Au3ttRvkHb
— Manobala (@manobalam) October 29, 2021
On Friday morning, Puneeth Rajkumar had been taken to Vikram Hospital in an "unresponsive" condition after he suffered a cardiac arrest; in the afternoon, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai tweeted: "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, 46, was the son of veteran actor Rajkumar. He is survived by wife Ashwini Revanth and has two children.
Post your tribute to Puneeth Rajkumar here.
