Rakshita on Appu: No Kannada hero can dance as beautifully as Puneeth Rajkumar

Shweta, the daughter of cinematographer BC Gowrishankar and actress Mamatha Rao, was rechristened Rakshita by Parvathamma Rajkumar, when she was chosen to be the leading lady of Puneeth Rajkumar’s debut as a leading man, Appu. Directed by Puri Jagannadh, Appu was remade in Tamil and Telugu too, with Rakshita reprising her role in those versions too. However, Appu remained her only film with Puneeth during her acting career, but she did work on the Telugu version of Puneeth's Veera Kannadiga, opposite Jr NTR.

Also read: 12 times Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar brought a popular actress to Kannada cinema 

Rakshita: Parvathamma Rajkumar was one of the biggest inspirations in my life

In a special segment for PRK Productions, ahead of Appu’s re-release on March 14, Rakshita says that the film will always remain special to her. “The first film in any actor’s life will be very beautiful and the experience, even more so. Appu was, I think, doubly special. My parents had started their film journeys with Sri Vajreshwari Combines, which was Parvathamma Rajkumar’s production and distribution wing. Parvathamma Rajkumar was one of the biggest inspirations in my life. In fact, when I think of Appu, I have to remember her too; she will always be my first inspiration,” says Rakshita, who turned producer in 2022 to launch her brother, Raana in Ek Love Ya .

As for the making of Appu, Rakshita says that there are countless beautiful memories from back then. But what stayed with her was just how amazing a dancer and fighter Puneeth was. The actress was also in awe of his dialogue delivery. “Dancing with Puneeth or performing certain scenes with him was far from easy, because he’d already won a National Award (for Best Child Artiste in Bettada Hoovu) and was a phenomenal dancer. To date, I don’t think there’s been anyone who dances as beautifully as Puneeth. No Kannada hero can dance as good as Puneeth,” declares Rakshita.

The actress-producer, who gave up her acting career in 2007, says that Appu remains one of Rakshita's most memorable films . She will be in theatres on March 14, 2025 to catch the first show of the re-release and relive some of the memories of the making of Appu.

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