Popular Kannada actor, Puneeth Rajkumar left his huge fanbase in tears as he breathed his last on October 29, 2021, at the age of 46. He had shot to fame with his debut in the 2002 film, Appu. However, not many people know that the talented actor had made an onscreen appearance at a mere age of six months. He had worked with his father, Rajkumar in the movie, Premada Kanike (1976). After growing up, he followed his father's footsteps and joined acting, making him proud with his achievements.
Just like any other star kid, who gets compared to his parents, if they follow their father's legacy, Puneeth Rajkumar, too had to face the same. Though his father, Rajkumar was his inspiration and he used to respect him like anything because it was due to him that the love for acting had bloomed in him. However, he had strongly expressed his difference of opinion on being compared to him and had even talked about it in an interview.
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In a throwback interview with the New Indian Express, Puneeth Rajkumar had talked about people coming up to him and telling him that he has some traits as that of his father, Rajkumar. Revealing his reply to them, he had said:
“Whenever people come and tell me that I looked like my dad in a particular scene or that I have his traits, I tell them not to compare me to my dad... I am different. I was the child who was pampered by my mother and so I may not be as disciplined as my father. I grew up in a different time and lived in the best of places wherever I went, unlike my father, who led the simplest of lives,”
Going further in the interview, Puneeth Rajkumar had also talked about his siblings, Shivarajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar and had said that people find similarities between his father and brothers as well. However, he did not like it as his father, Rajkumar was different than everyone. He had added:
''We are his sons so there is bound to be a lot resemblance. People see my father in Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar and me. But I will be lying, if I say ‘I am like my father’. He is different and there is nobody like him. I don’t think anyone can be compared to him.”
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Earlier, while speaking at India Today E-Conclave Corona Series, last year, Puneeth Rajkumar had remembered his father, Rajkumar and shared his pride for being his son and how his family had celebrated his father's birthday. In his words:
"I am so happy and blessed to say that I'm in his son. There are statues of him across Karnataka, and people usually celebrate this day in a big way. After a long time, we went to the samadhi (resting place called Dr Rajkumar Samadhi) once we got permission. We were also talking about which film of his to watch. I came live on Instagram and dedicated a song for all his fans. I still see kids who are listening to his songs.''
For the unversed, popular South Indian actor, Puneeth Rajkumar was admitted to the Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru after the Sandalwood actor had suffered a severe cardiac arrest. Since his hospitalisation, reports in the media were doing the rounds that some of the most dignified doctors of the city were treating him in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). However, despite their best efforts, the doctors couldn't save him from what was destined to happen. Death clutched him and the passing of the iconic actor has shocked the entire Indian film industry.
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Here's hoping that Puneeth Rajkumar can reunite with his father, Rajkumar in the other part of the world!
