| Puneeth Rajkumar ಪುನೀತ್ ರಾಜ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ |
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| Born | March 17, 1975 Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Other names | Power Star, Appu, Lohith |
| Occupation | Actor, Singer |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse | Ashwini Revanath |
| Parents | Rajkumar, Parvathamma Rajkumar |
Puneeth Rajkumar (Kannada: ಪುನೀತ್ ರಾಜ್ ಕುಮಾರ್) is an Indian film actor who acts in Kannada films and the youngest son of Kannada superstar Dr Rajkumar and the younger brother of leading KFI star Shivaraj Kumar. As a child artist, he appeared in 12 films. He won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for the film Bettada Hoovu in 1986.[1]
After having appeared in films as a child actor in the 1980s, Puneeth rajkumar made his film debut in a leading role in Appu. The film was a huge hit. He has been noted for his performances in films like Aakash (2005), Arasu (2007), Milana (2007), Vamshi (2008), Raam (2009), Jackie (2010) and Paramathma (2011) which are his biggest commercial successes so far.
In 2007, he got a Filmfare award for his performance in Arasu[2] and in 2008 he received a Karnataka State Best Actor Award[3] for his performance in Milana.
Currently he is the highest paid actor in the Kannada Film Industry.[4][5] He has the most commercially successful movie hit rate with all of his movies netting huge profit. He has 16 films in a row that have stayed in theatres for minimum of 100 days, a rare achievement in the Indian film industry.[6]
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Puneeth Rajkumar was born as Lohith to Kannada Film Industry thespian Dr Rajkumar and producer Parvathamma Rajkumar. He is their fifth and youngest child.
He started his film career when he was six months old (Premada Kanike). He appeared as a son for his real father in many movies. He left school at a very early age and began to act in movies. He studied with a private teacher at his home and later received a Diploma in Computer Science. He then started his career in a mining business before entering the film industry in leading roles. He was trained in dancing and fighting for three years before his first film as a hero. Puneeth has had training in Kalarippayattu, one of the oldest Indian Martial arts.
His acting career really started with the movie Vasantha Geetha, where he performed well when he was 5 years old. Following this movie he worked in a few more popular movies between 1980 to 1984. In 1985 he worked on Bettada Hoovu and was honored with a National Film Award for Best Child Artist.
His initial name was Lohit Rajkumar. Later the name was changed to Puneeth Rajkumar. A lot of people in Karnataka still know him by "Lohit". As a child artist he appeared in 12 movies: Premada Kanike (6 month-old child), Sanadi Appanna (1 year-old child), Vasantha Geetha, Bhagyavantha, Hosa Belaku, Chalisuva modagalu, Bhaktha prahlaada, Eradu nakshatragalu, Bettada hoovu, Yaarivanu, Shiva Mechchida Kannappa and Parashuram.
After his performances in movies as a child artist, he re-entered the film industry in 2002 as the protagonist of the movie Appu which was remade in Telugu as Idiot and in Tamil as Dum in subsequent years. He received awards for the films Arasu and Milana. For the role he played in Arasuand Raj' movie, he got a Film Fare Best actor award and received Karnataka State Best Actor award for Milana. The latter successfully ran for 50 days in over 37 centres in Karnataka, and 100 days in 5 centres.[7] It completed a record 1 year run in PVR Cinemas, Bengaluru in September 2008.
In 2009, he starred in Raaj-The Showman which got mixed reviews from critics yet succeeded at the box office. His other movie that year, Raam also succeeded at the box office.[8] In 2010, Prithvi was released and completed 100 days run.[9] The movie got critical appreciation for its bold portrayal of ongoing politics in Karnataka.[10][11] He won accolades from both critics and audiences for his role in the 2010 blockbuster movie Jackie where he played a character that's rustic and local, yet charming and suave.[12][13]
Three movies are scheduled for the year 2011, including Hudugaru, which is a multi-starrer.[14] The other 2 include one with director Yograj Bhat titled Paramathma[15] followed by Anna Bond to be directed by Soori.[16]
Apart from acting Puneeth has also had a singing career. He has sung since his childhood in all his movies as a child artist, when he entered as a male lead he also began singing at least one song in all his films.
It is usual for music directors of his movies to record a song in his voice, as most of his songs have mass appeal. From his first movie Appu, he was using his voice for solo songs mostly. With the song Jothe Jotheyali from the movie Vamshi he sang duets too which became a hit song of 2008.[17] In 2010 he sang another fast-number in his hit movie Jackie after which he rendered voice to his brother Shivrajkumar's film titled "lava kusha" and Mylari.[18] Now Puneeth has given voice for Golden Star Ganesh movie Shyloo.
Before entering the film industry, he was actively involved in a Home Banner Vajreshwari Combines' film distribution job in Karnataka, this still continues. He produced some of the movies made for their brothers Shivaraj Kumar as well as Raghavendra Rajkumar. Two TV serials were also produced by him.
In the movie Akasmika he designed the costumes of Rajkumar.
Puneeth has knowledge of SteadiCam which is used in films to shoot scenes like stunts and car chases. Learning about new brand cameras and high definition lenses to movies is probably his favorite hobby.
As per the wishes of his father Rajkumar, he along with his brothers and family have built a hotel in Gandhi Nagar, Bengaluru called Dr. Raj International.[19]
Puneeth involves himself in philanthropic works with his mother Parvathamma Rajkumar and carries this out in an Ashram called Shakti Dhama in Mysooru.
He is the brand ambassador for fSquare, Malabar Gold,[20] Manappuram [21] and for a dance show called "DHEE". Also his decision to be brand ambassador for state-owned Karnataka Milk Federation without any remuneration for its product "Nandini", has been praised by media and fans.[22][23] Decades ago his father Dr Rajkumar also became the brand ambassador for "Nandini" milk products without taking remuneration, which had helped KMF products to increase sales in the Karnataka State and outside too.[24]
He is now the brand ambassador of Royal Challengers Bangalore, an IPL team.[25] He has replaced Upendra, who was the brand ambassador of the team in 2008 and 2009.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Premada kanike | Child artist | |
| 1977 | Sanaadi Appanna | Child artist | |
| 1980 | Vasantha Geetha | Shyaam | |
| 1981 | Bhagyavantha | Krishna | |
| Thayige Thakka Maga | Child artist | ||
| Bhoomige Banda Bhagavanta | Child artist | ||
| 1982 | Hosa Belaku | Puttu | |
| Chalisuva Modagalu | Ramu | ||
| 1983 | Bhakta Prahlada | Prahlada | |
| Eradu Nakshatragalu | Raja | ||
| 1984 | Yaarivanu | Shyaam | |
| 1985 | Bettada Hoovu | Ramu | Winner, National Film Award for Best Child Artist |
| 1988 | Shiva Mechchida Kannappa | Child artist | |
| 1989 | Parashurama | Appu |
| No | Year | Film | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002 | Appu | Appu | Puri Jagannath | 2 Years, Remade in Telugu as Idiot Tamil as Dum |
| 2 | 2003 | Abhi | Abhi | Dinesh Babu | 150 days |
| 3 | 2004 | Veera Kannadiga | Munna | Mehera Ramesh | 100 days |
| 4 | Maurya | Manu | S. Narayan | 100 days | |
| 5 | 2005 | Aakash | Akash | Mahesh Babu | 175 days |
| 6 | Namma Basava | Basava | Veera Shankar | 150 days | |
| 7 | 2006 | Ajay | Ajay | Meher Ramesh | 100 days |
| 8 | 2007 | Arasu | Shivaraj Urs | Mahesh Babu | 150 days Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award |
| 9 | Milana | Akash | Prakash | 200 days Winner, Karnataka State Best Actor Award Dubbed to Malayalam [26] |
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| 10 | 2008 | Bindaas | Shivu | D.Rajendra Babu | 150 days Dubbed to Telugu as Pandugadu |
| 11 | Vamshi | Vamshi | Prakash | 200 days | State Best Actor Award |
| 12 | 2009 | Raaj - The Showman | Mutturaj | Prem | 100 days [27] |
| 13 | Raam | Raam | K. Madesh | 175 days [28] | |
| 14 | 2010 | Prithvi | Prithvi Kumar | Jacob Varghese | 100 days [29] Dubbed to Malayalam and telugu [30] |
| 15 | Jackie | Janakirama aka Jackie |
Soori | Blockbuster of 2010,Total grossings 100+crores 150 days, total [31] Dubbed to Telugu and Malayalam |
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| 16 | 2011 | Hudugaru | Prabhu |
K. Madesh | Block Buster. Completed 100 days, total grossing 60 + crores |
| 17 | Paramathma | Paramathma aka Param | Yograj Bhat[15] | 12 crores collection on first week of release. Completed 50 days. Heading towards 100 days. | 48 crore(40 days)[32] |
| 18 | 2012 | Anna Bond | Soori | Filming[16] | |
| 19 | 2013 | Jai Bajarangbali | Yogaraj Bhat | Announced[16] |
He married Ashwini Revanath at the age of 24 and they have two daughters Drithi and Vandhita.
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B.R. Pantulu · G.V.Iyer · Gubbi Veeranna · Rajkumar · Puttanna Kanagal · Balakrishna · Leelavathi · Srinath · Sunil kumar desai · Vishnuvardhan · Ambarish · Pandari Bai · B. Saroja Devi · Sahukar janaki · Shivarajkumar · Jayamala · Aarathi · Bharathi · Manjula · Ravichandran · Shankar Nag · Anant Nag · Girish Karnad · Girish Kasaravalli · M. P. Shankar · Vajramuni · Upendra · Sudeep · Ramya · Vijay · Sharmila Mandre · Rakshita · Anu Prabhakar · Malashri · Prema · Ramesh Arvind · Suhasini · Soundarya · Shruti · Puneeth Rajkumar · Ganesh · Diganth · Aindrita Ray · Jennifer Kotwal · Darshan · Amoolya · Meera Jasmine · Parvathi Menon · Pooja Gandhi · Vijay Raghavendra · Radhika Pandit