Late actor Puneeth Rajkumar to be honoured with Karnataka Ratna award: CM Bommai

Bengaluru, November 17: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has announced that Kannada film star Puneeth Rajkumar, who passed away recently, will be conferred with the ‘Karnataka Ratna’ award posthumously.

 

Bommai made the announcement while speaking at ‘Puneetha Namana’, an event organised by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), in association with Sandalwood film actors and technicians’ associations to pay homage to the actor.

 

“After discussion with several people, I have decided to confer Karnataka Ratna award posthumously upon Puneeth Rajkumar,” Bommai said at the event held at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru.

 

 

Puneeth Rajkumar passed away on 29 October after suffering a heart attack. He had complained of chest pain during a routine workout. His mortal remains were taken to his house at Sadashivanagar and then laid to rest at the Kanteerava Stadium on 31 October.

 

Puneeth is survived by his wife Ashwini and two daughters. Several celebrities and politicians expressed their condolences and shock at Puneeth Rajkumar’s untimely demise.

 

 

Dubbed ‘Powerstar’ by his fans, Puneeth was a very popular actor in Kannada cinema. Superstar Rajinikanth called his demise an irreparable loss to the Kannada film industry. He made his debut as a lead in the 2002 film Appu and went on to star in several films including Veera Kannadiga, Maurya, Okkadu, Vamshi, and Jackie.

 

Puneeth's father Dr. Rajkumar had pledged the entire family's eyes to an eye bank. After Puneeth's passing, his eyes were donated and the subsequent transplants helped four patients.

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