Puneeth Rajkumar was an Indian actor known for his work in Kannada films. As a six-month-old infant, he made a cameo appearance in V. Somashekar's Premada Kanike (1976) and followed it with Sanaadi Appanna (1977) when he was a year old. Most of his earlier films had his father Rajkumar playing his reel father as well. Films like Thayige Thakka Maga, Vasantha Geetha and Bhagyavantha followed up which also showcased his singing skills. For the N. Lakshminarayan film Bettada Hoovu he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. He ended his childhood appearances with the action film Parashuram.
Puneeth's first leading role came opposite Rakshita in Appu (2002), a highly successful romantic drama directed by Puri Jagannadh. This was followed by Abhi opposite Ramya in 2003, and Veera Kannadiga and Maurya in 2004. All these films were commercially successful and established him as one of the leading actors in Kannada cinema. He was known for his versatile stunts, especially his backflips. His superhuman flexibility was attributed by some to his Idiga background, who were agile toddy tappers.
Puneeth's first award-winning performance came through the film Arasu for which he won the Filmfare award and his next release Milana got him the Karnataka State Film Award. His other major successes include Jackie, Hudugaru, Rana Vikrama, Raajakumara and Natasaarvabhowma, Yuvarathnaa.
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | Premada Kanike | An infant | Credited as Master Rajkumar | [1] |
1977 | Sanaadi Appanna | Young Ashok | Credited as Master Lohith | [2] |
1978 | Thayige Thakka Maga | Young Kumar | Credited as Master Lohith | [3] |
1980 | Vasantha Geetha | Shyaam | Credited as Master Lohith | [4] |
1981 | Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha | Krishna | Credited as Master Lohith | [5] |
Bhagyavantha | Krishna | Credited as Master Lohith | [6] | |
1982 | Hosa Belaku | Puttu | Credited as Master Lohith | [7] |
Chalisuva Modagalu | Ramu | Credited as Master Lohith | [8] | |
1983 | Bhakta Prahlada | Prahlada | Credited as Master Lohith | [9] |
Eradu Nakshatragalu | Raja | Credited as Master Lohith | [10] | |
1984 | Yarivanu | Shyam | Credited as Master Lohith | [11] |
1985 | Bettada Hoovu | Ramu | Credited as Master Puneeth | [12] |
1988 | Shiva Mecchida Kannappa | Young Dinna | Credited as Master Puneeth Rajkumar | [13] |
1989 | Parashuram | Appu | Child Actor | [14] |
2002 | Appu | Appu | Debut in Lead Role | [15] |
2003 | Abhi | Abhishek "Abhi" | [16] | |
2004 | Veera Kannadiga | Munna/Shankar | Dual role | [17] |
Maurya | Manu | [18] | ||
2005 | Aakash | Aakash | [19] | |
Namma Basava | Basava | [20] | ||
2006 | Ajay | Ajay | [21] | |
2007 | Arasu | Shivaraj Arasu | [22] | |
Milana | Aakash | [23] | ||
2008 | Bindaas | Shivu | [24] | |
Vamshi | Vamshi | [25] | ||
2009 | Raaj – The Showman | Muthuraj | [26] | |
Raam | Raam | [27] | ||
2010 | Prithvi | Prithvi Kumar | [28] | |
Jackie | Janakirama "Jackie" | Udaya Film Award for Best Actor Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada |
[29] | |
2011 | Hudugaru | Prabhu | [30] | |
Paramathma | Param | [31] | ||
2012 | Anna Bond | Bond Ravi | [32] | |
Yaare Koogadali | Kumara | [33] | ||
2014 | Ninnindale | Vicky Venkatesh | [34] | |
Power*** | Bharath Kumar IPS | [35] | ||
2015 | Mythri | Himself | [36] | |
Rana Vikrama | ACP Vikram Kumar / Rana Vikrama | Dual role | [37] | |
2016 | Chakravyuha | Lohith | [38] | |
Doddmane Hudga | Surya | [39] | ||
2017 | Raajakumara | Siddharth | Love Lavike Readers Choice Award for Best Actor – Male Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadiga Award for Best Actor – Male Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada Nominated—TSR National Film Award for Best Actor |
[40] |
Anjani Putra | Viraj | [41] | ||
2018 | Humble Politician Nograj | Himself | Cameo appearance | [42] |
2019 | Natasaarvabhowma | Gagan Dixit | [43] | |
Padde Huli | Himself | Cameo appearance | [44] | |
2020 | Mayabazar 2016 | Himself | Cameo appearance in the song "Loka Maya Bazaru" | [45] |
2021 | Yuvarathnaa | Yuvaraj | Last film | [46] |
2022 | James | Santosh Kumar "James" | Posthumous film | [47] |
Lucky Man | God | Posthumous release; Extended cameo appearance | [48] | |
Gandhada Gudi | Himself | Posthumous film | [49] |
Year | Title | Character | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Bahaddur | Narrator | [50] | |
2018 | Amoli | Narrator | Documentary; Kannada version | [51] |
Rajaratha | Rajaratha (voice) | Narrator | [52] | |
2019 | India vs England | Narrator | [53] |
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Navibbaru Namagibbaru | [54] | |
2019 | Kavaludaari | [55] | |
2020 | Mayabazar 2016 | [56] | |
Law | Amazon Prime film | [57] [58] | |
French Biriyani | Amazon Prime film | [59] | |
2022 | One Cut Two Cut | Amazon Prime film; Posthumous release | [60] |
Family Pack | Amazon Prime film, Posthumous release | [61] [62] | |
Man of the Match | Amazon Prime film, Posthumous release | [63] | |
Gandhada Gudi | Posthumous release | [64] | |
2023 | Aachar & Co | Posthumous release | [65] |
Year | Title | Role | TV channel | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Kannadada Kotyadhipati | Host | Asianet Suvarna | Season 1 | [66] |
2013 | Kannadada Kotyadhipati | Season 2 | [66] | ||
2014 | UPstarters | Judge | Udaya TV | [67] | |
2014 | Weekend with Ramesh | Guest | Zee Kannada | Season 1 | [68] |
2016-2018 | Manedevru | Producer | Colors Kannada | [69] | |
2017 | Majaa Talkies | Guest | Colors Kannada | Season 1 | [70] |
Dance Dance Juniors | Guest | Star Suvarna | [71] | ||
2017–2018 | Family Power | Host | Colors Kannada | [72] | |
2019 | Kannadada Kotyadhipati | Season 4 | [73] | ||
2020 | Majaa Talkies | Guest | Season 2 | [74] | |
2021 | Netravathi | Producer | Udaya TV | [75] | |
2021 | Dance Karnataka Dance | Guest | Zee Kannada | [76] | |
Dance Dance | Guest | Star Suvarna | [77] |