I’ve had a heart attack, stroke, and survived; imagine how bad I feel that Puneeth didn’t: Raghavendra Rajkumar

On Sunday evening, all roads led to the Bengaluru Palace Grounds for the entire Rajkumar family, as they joined the team of the late Puneeth Rajkumar’s last commercial film, James, and his fans, to celebrate him and the movie, in the run-up to its March 17 release. The Chethan Kumar directorial, produced by Kishore Pathikonda, is set to release across 4,000 screens on March 17, the late actor’s birthday.

Speaking at the event, Puneeth’s brother Raghavendra Rajkumar (Raganna), got a tad emotional, saying, “See, how a vehicle that was running smoothly stopped suddenly, while I am limping around and still surive; imagine how bad I feel. I have had a heart attack, stroke and even got a pacemaker fitted and am still around. When I look back at Puneeth’s sudden passing, I wonder why I have made it and he didn’t. I am ready to let go of this earthly life.” Raganna’s words had his eldest brother Shivarajkumar break down in tears. The Century Star appeared inconsolable hearing Raganna speak and remember his late brother, who was 13 years younger than him and in much better physical shape than either of the brothers.

Raganna continued, “I am a little jealous of the James team; they got to spend a few precious months with him during the making of the film. I wish I had also been a part of the film back then and worked with them. I am glad, though, that I eventually got to be a part of the film, as the team got me to do a cameo in it.”

Addressing the fans who had gathered, he added, “On March 17, I will join Appu’s fans and watch the film to my heart’s contentment. You have already made James a celebration and I don’t need to tell you what to do with this film, after all, over the years, fans made Muthuraj into Dr Rajkumar, Shivanna into Shivarajkumar, Appu into Puneeth Rajkumar.”