Puneet Rajkumar: God's Chosen One

He sings like a pro, dances like a dream, fights like his life depends on it and performs like he’s born for it. His fans live to see him on screen and die of ecstasy when they meet him in person. How does one begin to describe the one and the only actor of Kannada cinema who is being hailed as a god’s special gift by his legendary father’s legion of fans? Aravind G Shivkamal gropes for words as he attempts to sum up the inimitable, impeccable and invincible Puneet Rajkumar.

Whoever said that a winner stands alone ought to meet Puneet Rajkumar. He is always surrounded by people, friends, fans and film producers. Getting to meet the most popular and happening Kannada superstar alone is a challenge even for his family! And that sometimes frustrates the superstar too because he yearns to spend some quality time with his precious daughters. More often than not he shoots on Sundays too. “Boss does not get time to unwind or relax for ages. Despite tight schedules and hectic shooting, he is still a cool dude,” sums up his assistant for many years.

He has consistently delivered hits after hits minus the occasional miss. No wonder Puneet Rajkumar, youngest son of the late thespian Dr Rajkumar is busy all the time. However, when things start getting to him, he takes a break with his family and goes off on a week-long holiday to Singapore or Europe. “Sometimes, I wonder what has happened to my life in the last 8 years. It is a completely different phase. I was nobody until then. Now, I have a lot of responsibilities - my career; my family; my friends – and they keep on growing. Yet I feel I am milestones away from my father’s achievements,” says Puneet.

Once Puneet gets going, the conversation becomes even more interesting: “My life is an open book. Everyone knows more about me and my father. I am cool with any questions or queries.” His attitude remains simple on and off screen. He does not ask for a caravan, he eats with the production unit, his demands are minimal. It is just that the ‘Power Star’ of Kannada cinema does not believe in displaying his awesome power! That has made him the darling of the Kannada film industry as much as his elder brothers.

Puneet was still a kid when his elder brothers Shivarajkumar and Raghavendra debuted on the big screen. Both brothers went on to deliver hits and blockbusters. Though Raghavendra stopped acting in films and took over the family’s home production unit, Shivarajkumar continued his stint in films. Today, he is on the threshold of his 100th film.

Pressure is not new to Puneet. No, not from his family or friends but from the legion of Rajkumar’s fans who demanded that he enter films. Once Puneet turned a teenager, predictions of his grand entry and subsequent stardom were commonplace though he had already tasted amazing success as a child actor. He acted in more than a dozen movies and at 10, he won the national award for his stellar performance in Bettada Hoovu! He also sang many songs as a child! Grooming him to take on the mantle was none other than his iconic and legendary father. When the right time arrived, he took the plunge. But before that Puneet had other plans.

“It was just that I wanted to try my hand at something else. I wanted to become a real estate magnate. I even tried that. Then, I was involved in film distribution. But as luck would have it, I did not do well in either. I guess, I was destined to become an actor,” he reveals. But why was he shying away from acting? “My father has left behind such an unsurpassable legacy. Both my elder brothers are actors. Somehow, I was a bit apprehensive about myself. A lot of planning went into my debut. Fortunately, things have gone the right way in my life and movie career.”

His first film Appu, incidentally the pet name his father had given him, was a blockbuster in 2002. Directed by Puri Jagannath, the movie was remade in Telugu. His next film Abhi too was a mega hit. All the 14 movies he has acted in so far have the distinction of crossing 100 days! Currently, he is shooting for his 15th film Jackie being directed by Soori of Duniya fame. Jackie is Puneet’s home production.

Puneet needed no special training before he turned a full-time hero. More than his brothers, it is his father who inspired him the most: “I grew up watching my father and brothers perform on the sets. If I remember it right, I have been to every film set of my father since childhood. It had become a routine for me.” That’s probably where Puneet imbibed his father’s qualities of professionalism, affable nature and a humble personality. As far as possible, he tries to meet as many people and fans without disappointing them.

If Puneet’s shooting in any part of Karnataka, the producer can be assured of mobs descending on the location. But fortunately for them, Puneet manages the crowd himself. “I am amazed with their adulation. I wonder whether they are my fans or my father’s fans. I don’t know. They want to shake my hand, click my photographs of me. I just love them. Being Rajkumar’s son is such a blessing…”

Dr Rajkumar was so popular among his fans that he equated them to god. In fact, the star actor even coined a new term ‘Fan Gods’ as a mark of respect to his huge fan following. Puneet has realized that these ‘Fan Gods’ have given his father a cult status, which is impossible to replicate. “The same fan gods have given me the title of Power Star. But I believe I am nowhere near it. What will I do with that power?”