Puneeth Rajkumar (Kannada: ಪುನೀತ್ ರಾಜ್ ಕುಮಾರ್) known as
Power Star is an Indian film actor and playback singer, who appears in
Kannada films. As a child artist, he appeared in 12 films. His performances as a young kid in
Bettada Hoovu,
Bhagyavanta,
Vasantha Geetha,
Chalisuva Modagalu,
Yeradu Nakshatragalu were much appreciated.
[2] He won the
National Film Award for Best Child Artist for the film
Bettada Hoovu in 1986.
[3]
After having appeared in films as child actor in the 1980s, Rajkumar made his debut in a leading role in the film
Appu in 2002. The film was a huge hit was remade into Telugu as
Idiot, in Tamil as
Dum and in in Bengali as
Priya Amar Priya in 2008.
[4] This was the first film with Rajkumar in a lead role as an adult. In 2007, he starred in
Milana which has run for a year in PVR Multiplex Bangalore. He received the Karnataka State Best Actor Award for his role in the film.
[2][5] In 2010, he starred in the movie
Jackie paired with Bhavana Menon in lead roles. This movie got wide critical acclaim
[6] and was adjudged the Best Film of 2010 at the
South Filmfare Awards.
[7] The Telugu version was released on 6 May 2011. He has been noted for his performances in films like
Abhi (2003),
Aakash (2005),
Arasu (2007),
Raaj-The Showman (2009),
Prithvi (2010),
Hudugaru (2011),
Paramathma (2011),
Yaare Koogadali
(2012) which are his biggest commercial successes so far. Puneeth is
the only actor so far who is managed to have ten consecutive movies
successfully run for 100+ days.
[2]
In addition to the films, he also endorses several brands in Karnataka. He is the brand ambassador for
7 Up(
PepsiCo),
[8] Dixcy Scott,
[9] Malabar Gold,
[10] Manappuram,
[11] F square and also became the brand ambassador for "Nandini" milk products without taking remuneration, which had helped
Karnataka Milk Federation products to increase sales in the
Karnataka State and outside too.
[12] In 2012, Puneeth hosted the first season of
Kannadada Kotyadhipati, is the official
Kannada language adaptation of the internationally-renowned
Sony Pictures Television -owned game show
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and its successful Hindi adaptation
Kaun Banega Crorepati.
[13] After the phenomenal success of season-1
[14] second season followed in 2013.
[15]
Early life
Rajkumar was born as Lohith to
Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar. He is their fifth and youngest child. He is the younger brother of
Shivarajkumar and producer, actor
Raghavendra Rajkumar. With the blessing of his parents, Puneeth married Ashwini Revanath in 1999.
[citation needed]
He started his film career when he was six months old in his father's films
Premada Kanike[16] and
Sanadi Appanna[17] when he was one year old. He appeared as a son for his real father in many movies such as
Yarivanu,
Vasantha Geetha,
Chalisuva Modagalu.
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 a 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.
[citation needed]
Career
Early career (1976–89)
His acting career started with the movie
Vasantha Geetha, in which he acted when he was 5 years old.
[citation needed] Following this movie, he worked in a few more movies between 1980 to 1984. In 1985 he worked on
Bettada Hoovu for which he was honored with a
National Film Award for Best Child Artist.
[18]
His initial name was Lohith. Later the name was changed to Puneeth Rajkumar. A lot of people
[who?] in Karnataka still know him by "Appu"
[19] 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. He co-starred with his father in 10 out of 12 movies.
Lead roles (2002–Present)
After his performances in movies as a child artist, he re-entered the film industry in 2002 as the protagonist of the movie
Appu film was such a huge success that it was remade in
Telugu as
Idiot and in
Tamil as
Dum in subsequent years under the direction of
Puri Jagannadh who directed his brother
shivaraj Kumar in the movie
Yuvaraja. He followed up with a string of films which received great reviews from critics and audience. In
2007 He won his first
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada for the movie
Arasu. But it was 2007's
Milana that earned him a place in the big league.
[5]
In
2009, he starred in most expected movie
Raaj-The Showman which got mixed reviews from critics and audience.
[20] In
2010,
[21] Prithvi( IAS officer role), the movie got critical appreciation for its bold portrayal of ongoing politics in
Karnataka.
[22][23] He won accolades from both critics and audiences for his role in the 2010 movie
Jackie where he played a character that's rustic and local, yet charming and suave
[24][25] and was adjudged the Best Film of 2010 at the
South Filmfare Awards[26]
He acted in two movies in the year 2011, including
Hudugaru.
[27] Puneeth earned his second
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada[28] and also
SIIMA awards for Best Actor for this movie. The other was
Paramathma[29] under the direction of director Yograj Bhat, followed by
Anna Bond in 2012 directed by
Soori,
[30] the director who had directed him in
Jackie. His movie
Yaare Koogadali[31] released in December 2012 got rave reviews from critics, and was followed by
Ninnindale (2014).
Singing career
Apart from acting, Puneeth also had a singing career. He has sung since his childhood in all his movies as a child artist.
Kanadante Mayavadanu from
Chalisuva Modagalu is one of his songs as a child artist. He sang with
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam in his movie
Bettada Hoovu. 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. From his first movie
Appu, he was mostly singing solo. With the song
Jothe Jotheyali from the movie
Vamshi he sang duets too.
[32] In 2010 he sang another fast-number in his movie
Jackie after which he rendered voice to his brother
Shivrajkumar's film titled "lava kusha" and
Mylari.
[33] Puneeth has also given voice for Ganesh movie
Shyloo and also for Yogesh's Sidlingu. He is also given voice in films
Ale and
Tony.
TV Shows
In 2013 Puneeth hosted the quiz show
Kannadada Kotyadhipati which is modeled on the Hindi show
Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by
Amitabh Bachchan, which was in turn modeled on British show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? hosted by
Chris Tarrant.
[34] Show had a very good
Target rating points.
[citation needed]. After the phenomenal success of season-1
[14] second season followed in 2013.
[15]
Other interests
Before entering the film industry he was actively involved in a Home
Banner Vajreshwari Combines film distribution job in Karnataka, which
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 same serial he has made guest appearance. In the movie
Akasmika he designed the costumes of
Rajkumar.
Puneeth has a 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
his favorite hobby.
[citation needed]
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.
[35]
Puneeth has also involved himself in philanthropic works with his
mother Parvathamma Rajkumar and carries this out in an Ashram called
Shakti Dhama in Mysore.
[36]
Brand endorsement
Puneeth is the brand ambassador for f Square, Malabar Gold,
[10] Manappuram [11] 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.
[37][38] 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.
[12] Now he is the brand ambassador for
7 Up(
PepsiCo),
[8] Dixcy Scott[9]
He is also the brand ambassador of
Royal Challengers Bangalore, an IPL team.
[39] He has replaced
Upendra,
who was the brand ambassador of the team in 2008 and 2009. He also
worked as an ambassador to Election Commission to increase the polling
rates in Karnataka during Karnataka Assembly election May 2013.
Filmography
Lead role
Notes |
1 |
2002 |
Appu
ಅಪ್ಪು |
Appu |
Puri Jagannath |
Remade in Telugu as Idiot, Tamil as Dum and Bengali as Priya Amar Priya |
Rakshita |
2 |
2003 |
Abhi
ಅಭಿ |
Abhi |
Dinesh Babu |
Remade in Telugu as Abhimanyu |
Ramya |
3 |
2004 |
Veera Kannadiga
ವೀರ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ |
Munna |
Meher Ramesh |
|
Natassha (Anita Hassanandan) |
4 |
2004 |
Maurya
ಮೌರ್ಯ |
Manu |
S.Narayan |
Remake of Telugu movie Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi |
Meera Jasmine |
5 |
2005 |
Aakash
ಆಕಾಶ್ |
Aakash |
Mahesh Babu |
|
Ramya |
6 |
2005 |
Namma Basava
ನಮ್ಮ ಬಸವ |
Basava |
Veera Shankar |
|
Gowri Munjal |
7 |
2006 |
Ajay
ಅಜಯ್ |
Ajay |
Meher Ramesh |
Remake of Telugu movie Okkadu |
Anuradha Mehta as Paddu |
8 |
2007 |
Arasu
ಅರಸು |
Shivaraj Arasu |
Mahesh Babu |
Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Kannada)[citation needed] |
Ramya,
Meera Jasmine
Shriya Saran, Darshan (actor), Guest Appearance |
9 |
2007 |
Milana
ಮಿಲನ |
Aakash |
Prakash |
Winner, Karnataka State Best Actor Award
Dubbed to Malayalam as Ishtam Enikkishtam.[40] |
Parvati Menon, Pooja Gandhi towords 500 days |
10 |
2008 |
Bindaas
ಬಿಂದಾಸ್ |
Shivu |
D. Rajendra Babu |
|
Hansika Motwani - Preethi |
11 |
2008 |
Vamshi
ವಂಶಿ |
Vamshi |
Prakash |
Winner, South Scope Award for best actor[citation needed] |
Nikitha |
12 |
2009 |
Raaj - The Showman
ರಾಜ್ - ದೀ ಶೋ ಮ್ಯಾನ್ |
Mutturaja |
Prem |
|
Nisha Kothari as Paravathi (Paru) |
13 |
2009 |
Raam
ರಾಮ್ |
Raam |
K. Madesh |
Remake of Telugu movie Ready |
Priyamani as Pooja |
14 |
2010 |
Prithvi
ಪೃಥ್ವಿ |
Prithvi Kumar |
Jacob Varghese |
|
Parvathi Menon as Priya |
15 |
2010 |
Jackie
ಜಾಕಿ |
Janakirama
as Jackie |
Duniya Soori |
Winner, Karnataka State Best Actor Award, Dubbed Telugu
Malayalam |
Bhavana Menon as Lakshmi |
16 |
2011 |
Hudugaru
ಹುಡುಗರು |
Prabhu and Maadu |
K. Madesh |
Remake of Tamil movie Naadodigal
Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada
Winner, SIIMA awards for Best Actor[citation needed] |
Radhika Pandit as Gayathri |
17 |
2011 |
Paramathma
ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ |
Param |
Yogaraj Bhat[29][41] |
|
Deepa Sannidhi as Deepa, Thithi Vade
Aindrita Ray as Saanvi, Paseena |
18 |
2012 |
Anna Bond
ಅಣ್ಣ ಬಾಂಡ್ |
Bond Ravi |
Duniya Soori |
Winner Suvarna Film Award for Favorite Hero
Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Filmfare Award for Best Actor |
Priya mani as Meera
Nidhi Subbaiah as Divya |
19 |
2012 |
Yaare Koogadali
ಯಾರೇ ಕೂಗಾಡಲಿ |
Kumara |
Samuthirakani |
Remake of Tamil movie Poraali |
Bhavana as Bharathi |
20 |
2014 |
Ninnindale
ನಿನ್ನಿಂದಲೇ |
Vicky Venkatesh |
Jayanth C. Paranjee |
|
Erica Fernandes as Pramila |
21 |
2014 |
Mythri
ಮೈತ್ರಿ |
Puneeth Rajkumar |
Giriraj |
With Mohanlal in a cameo appearance |
Archana
Bhavana
Mohanlal |
22 |
2014 |
Power |
Bharath Kumar |
K. Madesh |
Remake of Telugu movie Dookudu |
Trisha |
23 |
2014 |
Dheera Rana Vikrama ರಣವಿಕ್ರಮ [42] |
K.Bharath Kumar |
Pawan wadeyar |
Jayanna Combines ...started on 17th march |
Anjali |
Child artist
As a Singer
TV shows
Personal life
He married Ashwini Revanath at the age of 24 and they have two daughters Drithi puneethrajkumar and Vandhita puneethrajkumar.
[18]
Awards and honours
National Award
- Best Child Artist for " Betadha Huvu ".
State awards
SIIMA awards
Filmfare awards
South Scope awards
Other awards
- Suvarna channel movie awards - Best actor for the movie Jackie - 2010[citation needed]
- Suvarna Channel Most Favorite Actor for movie "Anna Bond"-2013
- Udaya Film Award
- Big Kannada Awards 2011
- Innovative Film Awards
- Udaya Film Awards -Best Actor Jackie
References