Veteran Kannada film actor Rajkumar passes away

Bangalore, Apr 12: Veteran Kannada film actor Rajkumar today passed away due to a cardiac arrest in M S Ramiah Hospital where he was admitted this morning. He was 77 and would have celebrated his 78th birthday on April 24.

The matinee idol was not in the best of his health and had just returned from a brief hospital stay in Wockhardt. He was suffering from chest pain, bronchial allergy and lung infection. However his Dr. Ramana Rao had declared him fully recovered and had discharged him in February.

He is survived by wife, Parvathamma Rajkumar and 3 sons and 2 daughters.

Rajkumar had received numerous state, national and international awards. He had received an honorary doctorate from Mysore University. He had won 10 Filmfare awards for the best actor category which happens to be the second highest in the history of Indian films. He had won 9 state awards in the best actor category. He had also won a National award in best singer category. He received thePadma Bhushan Award from the Government of India and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995, in recognition of his contributions to the Kannada film industry. His fans have conferred him the title "Nata Saarvabhowma" (The Emperor of Acting).

Dr Rajkumar ruled the hearts of millions of Kannadigas through years. He had acted in over 205 films and had recently expressed the desire to return to acting. Though he had numerous chances to try his hands in Indian politics vowing to his mass following, he had shied away from active politics focussing his energy towards art and cinema.

He was abducted by the Sandalwood smuggler Veerappan in July 2000 and was freed after 108 days of captivity.

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