Puneeth Rajkumar was one of the most popular and highest-paid actors in Kannada cinema (also called Sandalwood, or Chandanavana). He is the son of a famous actor, Dr. Rajkumar. Puneeth Rajkumar was also a playback singer and television presenter. He was born in 1975 and lived in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He started his acting career as a child artist in ‘Premada Kanike’ in 1976.
Puneeth’s first lead role was in a movie called ‘Appu’ which was released in 2002. Puneeth’s films are commercially successful, including “Vamishi” (2008), “Jackie” (2010), ‘Hudugaru’ (2011), and “Anna Bond” (2012).
Puneeth Rajkumar
At the age of 46, he passed away on his way to the hospital on October 29, 2021. Cardiac arrest was determined to be the cause of his death. Puneeth Rajkumar’s eyes were donated to benefit four individuals, this noble act inspired a wave of awareness, encouraging over 100,000 people to pledge to donate their own eyes.
The list includes Puneeth Rajkumar films in Kannada cinema, which include roles as child artists, cameo appearances, and lead roles. His last film “James” was released on March 17, 2022.
List of Puneeth Rajkumar Movies
| Title | Year | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premada Kanike | 1976 | An infant | V. Somashekar |
| Sanaadi Appanna | 1977 | Young Ashok | Vijay |
| Thayige Thakka Maga | 1978 | V. Somashekar | |
| Vasantha Geetha | 1980 | Shyaam | Dorai-Bhagavan |
| Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha | 1981 | Krishna | Ravee |
| Bhagyavantha | 1981 | Krishna | B. S. Ranga |
| Hosa Belaku | 1982 | Puttu | Dorai-Bhagavan |
| Chalisuva Modagalu | 1982 | Ramu | Singeetham Srinivasa Rao |
| Bhakta Prahlada | 1983 | Prahlada | Vijay |
| Eradu Nakshatragalu | 1983 | Raja | Singeetham Srinivasa Rao |
| Yarivanu | 1984 | Shyam | Dorai-Bhagavan |
| Bettada Hoovu | 1985 | Ramu | N. Lakshminarayan |
| Shiva Mecchida Kannappa | 1988 | Young Kannappa | Vijay |
| Parashuram | 1989 | Appu | V. Somashekar |
| Appu | 2002 | Appu | Puri Jagannadh |
| Abhi | 2003 | Abhi | Dinesh Babu |
| Veera Kannadiga | 2004 | Munna | Meher Ramesh |
| Maurya | 2004 | Manu | S. Narayan |
| Aakash | 2005 | Aakash | Mahesh Babu |
| Namma Basava | 2005 | Basava | Veera Shankar |
| Ajay | 2006 | Ajay | Meher Ramesh |
| Arasu | 2006 | Shivaraj Aras | Mahesh Babu |
| Milana | 2007 | Aakash | Prakash |
| Bindaas | 2008 | Shivu | D. Rajendra Babu |
| Vamshi | 2008 | Vamshi | Prakash |
| Raaj - The Showman | 2009 | Muthuraj | Prem |
| Raam | 2009 | Raam | K. Madesh |
| Prithvi | 2010 | Prithvi Kumar | Jacob Varghese |
| Jackie | 2010 | Janakirama alias Jackie | Duniya Soori |
| Hudugaru | 2011 | Prabhu | K. Madesh |
| Paramathma | 2011 | Param | Yogaraj Bhat |
| Anna Bond | 2012 | Bond Ravi | Yogaraj Bhat |
| Yaare Koogadali | 2012 | Kumara | Samuthirakani |
| Ninnindale | 2014 | Vicky Venkatesh | Jayanth C. Paranjee |
| Power | 2014 | Bharath Kumar IPS | K. Madesh |
| Mythri | 2015 | Himself | B. M. Giriraj |
| Rana Vikrama | 2015 | Vikram Kumar | Pawan Wadeyar |
| Chakravyuha | 2016 | Lohith | M. Sarvanan |
| Doddmane Hudga | 2016 | Surya | Duniya Soori |
| Rajakumara | 2017 | Siddharth | Santhosh Ananddram |
| Anjani Putra | 2017 | Viraj | A. Harsha |
| Humble Politician Nograj | 2018 | Cameo appearance | Saad Khan |
| Natasaarvabhowma | 2019 | Gagan Dixit | Pavan Wadeyar |
| Padde Huli | 2019 | Cameo appearance | Guru Deshpande |
| Mayabazar 2016 | 2020 | Cameo appearance | Radhakrishna Reddy |
| Yuvarathnaa | 2021 | Yuvaraj | |
| James | 2022 | Santhosh Kumar | Chethan Kumar |
Facts to Know about Puneeth Rajkumar
- Puneeth was a child artist who acted in more than 13 films. He won the National Film Award for the Best Child Artist for Bettada Hoovu (1985).
- Apart from acting, Puneeth was also a versatile playback singer. He used to sing in many of his films and even for others, which proves his versatility in the Kannada film industry.
- Puneeth was an icon of fitness and inspired many with his disciplined lifestyle. His passion for fitness and healthy living was reflected in his toned physique and energetic performances.
- He was also a very philanthropic individual who had many education and health-related initiatives to help underprivileged communities, though he always wanted these contributions to be behind the camera.
- Fans had a special name for him as “Appu” since his lead actor debut in the film Appu (2002), which was a huge success and catapulted him to stardom.
- Puneeth loved nature. He would spend time trekking and discovering the scenic beauty of Karnataka’s landscape.
- Puneeth was supporting 26 orphanages, 16 old age homes, 19 gaushalas and over 1800 students.
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