He Was A legend Beyond Legends, Says Kannada Actor Dhyan

Dhyan who played the lead in several Kannada films in the 2010s including Nanna Preethiya Hudugi, Monalisa, Jootata and Amritdhare, cannot believe that Puneeth Rajkumar is actually gone.

 “I thought it was a Twitter hoax. How can Puneeth Rajkumar be  gone so suddenly? He was just 46. That’s no  age to go. And he was  so fit, very health conscious. The suddenness  of his death shakes  you up,” says Dhyan who  was active in Kannada cinema  from 2001 to 2010.

“When I  joined the Kannada  film industry, Puneet Rajkumar was  already an icon beyond  all icons. His  popularity and  hold over the Kannada audience cannot be compared with anyone. He was God in Karnataka. Movies were sold to distributors within hours once the announcement was made that he was the hero. He was all the guarantee that a Kannada film needed  for success,” says  Dhyan.

Puneeth Rajkumar, says Dhyan, was venerated  for not  only who his onscreen  persona but also off  it.  “He was known widely for his charity work. He ran any number of  orphanages, schools, old-age homes and goshalas. He was hero-worshipped  for  not only the roles he played but also the person he was. So many  homes of  the poor had food on the table because of Mr Puneeth Rajkumar.”

 Dhyan says  Puneeth Rajkumar was a quiet doer. “He gave without expecting anything in return. His place  in  the Kannada cinema cannot be taken any other actor.”