Indian film star Puneeth Rajkumar died at age 46 from cardiac arrest, a statement from Vikram Hospital in Bangalore city said on Friday.
“Mr. Puneet Rajkumar, aged 46 years, was brought to Vikram Hospital on 10/29/21 with a diagnosis of heart attack with ECG done by a family doctor. At the time of arrival to the emergency, the patient was unresponsive and was in cardiac asystole,” the statement read.
Vikram Hospital said the actor remained non-responsive and asystolic despite prolonged advanced and aggressive measures by the panel of experts, who extended all efforts to save him.
“He was declared dead at 2.30pm (local),” the statement added.
Rajkumar, a prominent South Indian film actor, was also a television host, producer, and singer. Besides that, he was known for his dancing skills and was a playback singer like his father, with whom he appeared in his first movie, “Bettadu Hoovu,” when he was only ten years old.
As an actor, he worked on 29 films and was awarded the national award for “best child artist” early in his career. Rajkumar’s works as a producer in Kannada cinema were also widely recognized, as he made movies and television shows in the Kannada language, spoken in India’s southwestern state of Karnataka.
Rajkumar fans and politicians flooded social media with condolence messages to his family.
Basavaraj Bommai, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, described the actor’s death as a “huge personal loss.”
“Shocked and deeply saddened as Karnataka’s most loved superstar #PuneetRajkumar is no longer with us,” Bommai tweeted Friday. “Praying the almighty gives the Rajkumar family and fans the strength to bear this loss.”
Speaking to reporters, the minister explained that Rajkumar had been rushed to hospital when he complained of intense fatigue after exercising. But he later died.
Local media reported that offices and shops in Bengaluru had closed amid fear of violence, as an outpouring of grief spread among his fans, who gathered at his residence after his sudden death.
Raghavendra Rajkumar, the star’s elder brother, said his family was in “shock” and urged everyone to remain in peace.
