Puneeth Rajkumar Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Height, Net Worth, Movies, Death, Awards

Puneeth Rajkumar was an Indian actor, singer, producer, television presenter, and philanthropist, whose friendly smile and dynamic presence made him stand out across Kannada cinema from an early age.

Beginning his journey as a child artist under the name Master Lohith, his performance in Bettada Hoovu earned him national attention.

Later, his debut as a lead in the film Appu turned him into a beloved star known simply as Appu by his fans.

Profile

• Full name: Puneeth Rajkumar
• Date of birth: 17 March 1975
• Age: Deceased
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Profession: Actor, playback singer, film producer, television presenter, philanthropist
• Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
• Weight: 77 kg
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: Father Dr. Rajkumar; Mother Parvathamma Rajkumar
• Siblings: Brothers: Shiva Rajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar; Sisters: Lakshmi Rajkumar, Poornima Rajkumar
• Spouse: Ashwini Revanth
• Children: Drithi Rajkumar; Vanditha Rajkumar
• Relationship status: Married (from 1999 until his passing in 2021)
• Religion: Hinduism
• Ethnicity: Indian (Kannada heritage)
• Net worth: $5 million

Early Life and education

Puneeth Rajkumar (deceased) was born on 17 March 1975 in Chennai to Dr. Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar.

When he was six years old, the family relocated to Mysore, and he spent significant time on film sets alongside his father and siblings.

He was the youngest of five children, with two brothers—Shiva Rajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar—and two sisters, Lakshmi and Poornima.

Details on his schooling, exact educational qualifications, or formal graduation are not publicly documented.

He did, however, receive a doctorate from Mysore University and, posthumously, the Karnataka Ratna honor.

Personal Life

Puneeth Rajkumar married Ashwini Revanth on 1 December 1999; they had met through a mutual friend.

The couple had two daughters: Drithi and Vanditha.

After his passing, Ashwini took charge of continuing his charitable legacies, including the work of the Puneeth Rajkumar Foundation.

Career

Puneeth Rajkumar started as a child artist as early as six months old in Premada Kanike (1976), he featured in numerous films such as Vasantha Geetha (1980), Bhagyavantha (1981), Chalisuva Modagalu (1982), and Bettada Hoovu (1985), earning critical acclaim and several awards including the National Film Award for Best Child Artist.

His first lead role came in Appu (2002), which made him widely popular and earned him the nickname “Appu” among fans.

Over nearly three decades, he starred in over 30 films as the lead and delivered hits such as Aakash, Raam, Jackie, Hudugaru, Raajakumara, Yuvarathnaa.

He also founded PRK Productions in July 2017, which produced films including Kavaludaari (2019) and Mayabazar 2016 (2020).

His final on-screen appearance was in Gandhada Gudi (2022), a nature docudrama released posthumously.

Awards

• National Film Award – Best Child Artist for Bettada Hoovu (1985)
• Karnataka State Film Awards – Four wins including Best Child Artist and later Best Actor
• Filmfare Awards South – Six wins
• SIIMA Awards – Five wins
• Honorary Doctorate from Mysore University (posthumous)
• Karnataka Ratna (state’s highest civilian honor), awarded posthumously in 2022

Net worth

Puneeth Rajkumar’s net worth was estimated at around $5 million at the time of his death.

He earned through acting, brand endorsements, his YouTube channel PRK Audio, and film production.

Death

Puneeth Rajkumar passed away on 29 October 2021 in Bangalore due to a massive cardiac arrest, while training in the gym.

Social Media

• Facebook: @PuneethRajkumar
• Instagram: @puneethrajkumar.official
• X: @PuneethRajkumar
• YouTube: PRK Audio

Filmography

• Premada Kanike (1976)
• Vasantha Geetha (1980)
• Bhagyavantha (1981)
• Chalisuva Modagalu (1982)
• Eradu Nakshatragalu (1983)
• Bhakta Prahaladha (1983)
• Yarivanu (1984)
• Bettada Hoovu (1985)
• Appu (2002)
• Abhi (2003)
• Aakash (2005)
• Vamshi (2008)
• Raam (2009)
• Jackie (2010)
• Hudugaru (2011)
• Power (2014)
• Raajakumara (2017)
• Natasaarvabhowma (2019)
• Yuvarathnaa (2021)
• Gandhada Gudi (2022—released posthumously)
• James (2022—released posthumously)