Remembering Puneeth Rajkumar-Shivarajkumar: A day hasn't gone by without the memories of Appu

Today (October 29) marks the first death anniversary of Dr Puneeth Rajkumar. Sandalwood lost its beloved Power Star on this unfateful date. The actor fondly called Appu, passed away at the young age of 46 after suffering a massive heart attack. Millions of fans, his friends and family are yet to come to terms with Puneeth's untimely demise. 

Puneeth's elder brother, and actor, Shivarajkumar says that he hasn't crossed one day without remembering Appu. "Puneeth has become a part of my daily life, and there is not a single day that has gone by without talking about him. I have seen him from the time of his birth, and he will always be special to me. Appu was a pure soul. He was like a book, and every page of his life journey was filled with love."

Shivanna shares that every time someone reminds him of Puneeth's absence, he feels terrible, "Puneeth was a great support to the film industry, family and friends, and acted as a pillar for everyone. While the foundation of my life has been appaji (Dr Rajkumar) and amma (Parvathmma Rajkumar), Puneeth was my pillar of strength, I want to hold  on to that strongly."

Shivanna was happy to have danced to songs from Appu's songs at the pre-launch event (Oct 21). "It was difficult to dance like him, but on that particular day, I felt his presence on stage. It was quite an unforgettable event."

Shivarajkumar watched Gandhada Gudi on Friday evening along with his close friends. "I was particular that I paid for the tickets and brought 50 gold class tickets. Gandhada Gudi is a film that will deliver a different experience, in contrast to Appu's usual works," he shares. Shivanna goes on to add about the film, "Seeing Puneeth being himself on the screen made all of us emotional.  The film carries an important message on the conservation of forests and animals. We are facing environmental issues across the world, and such films help us to spread awareness. Gandhada Gudi is not the end of Appu's vision, but the beginning."