Chennai: The Bengaluru city came to a standstill with several shops closing their shutters and people thronging Sri Kanteerava Studios to get a final glimpse of their favorite actor and power star of Kannada, Puneeth Rajkumar, who passed away after suffering a massive cardiac arrest at the age of 46, on Friday. The public queued for several kilometers in front of the Kanteerava Studios after his remains were taken for burial in the Studios next to his father Rajkumar from the Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday morning. Many fans longing for a final glimpse of the actor and to see the last rites climbed on trees near the studios.
The last rite of the actor Puneeth Rajkumar was scheduled on Saturday evening, however, the family postponed the rites since there was a delay in the flight of Puneeth’s daughter flight from New York. The Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announcing the postponement said that the actor will be given all-state honours and will be laid to rest next to his father Rajkumar in Sri Kanteerava Studios on Sunday. He also requested the fans of Puneeth Rajkumar to peacefully pay the last respects to "Appu" (as fondly called) since they will have the remains for public viewing till Sunday morning.
After keeping the remains for public viewing for a day, the family finally took Puneeth’s remains to Sri Kanteerava Studios on Sunday early morning.
However, the fans who could not get a last glimpse of the actor climbed on the terrace of the homes opposite the stadium to see the final rites of the actor in Sri Kanteerava studio in Bengaluru. Some of them even dared to climb and stay on trees to get a final look at the actor.
The Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was present in the studios while giving the state honours and the final rites of the actor.
Talking about Puneeth, Bommai told ANI, "It was a personal bonding with the entire family and more so with 'Appu'. I had seen him as a boy. We had relations since those days. Therefore I am giving him a final salute. Certainly, I was emotional."
"It's a personal loss to me. We have lost a very great talent," he said.