Puneeth Rajkumar and the limits of stardom | Latest News India

This Deepavali is a quiet and sombre one in Bengaluru, not solely due to Covid– its lengthy shadow is lastly fading– however due to the unhappy and premature loss of life of Kannada celebrity Puneeth Rajkumar at age 46.

“Have a look at these crowds,” stated a hardened information reporter, filming the tons of of hundreds of weeping followers who had gathered. “To the touch so many lives so deeply is one thing superb.”

The loss of life of a Bollywood actor does this– we all know. However Puneeth Rajkumar appeared to put on his fame lighter than most. Maybe it was being born because the son of Rajkumar, a legend and icon in Karnataka. Maybe, it was being the youngest son in a joint household of 30 individuals. Regardless of the motive, the phrase that most individuals use to explain the “energy star” is “humble.” You’ll be able to see it within the film clips which can be at present enjoying on loop on Twitter. There’s a beautiful one made by Hombale Movies, during which followers are describing how they watch Puneeth’s films– first-day first present for a lot of. As they discuss, Puneeth quietly walks up behind them and ad-libs a phrase. “Will you give me a ticket to see the film with you?” he mutters. The girl fan turns to search out her matinee idol standing behind. He grins, she screams, they shake arms. You’ll be able to see the enjoyment of each events.

Past the crowds, past the condolences from Prime Minister Modi, to Sadhguru to Sanjay Dutt to Virendra Sehwag to just about everybody within the Kannada movie fraternity, one information merchandise stood out: the truth that two followers died of a coronary heart assault after they heard about Puneeth’s loss of life. Now, a fan can commit suicide, as some did after they heard of MGR’s loss of life in Tamilnadu. However to die of a coronary heart assault (of pure causes) requires you to be so linked to this actor emotionally that the grief of his passing is kind of heart-breaking. That, if true, tells us that Puneeth Rajkumar had an emotional resonance along with his followers that few can equal.

A part of the explanation for the shock is after all that Puneeth died tragically young– he was simply 46. Additionally, the truth that he appeared match.

There’s a pretend message, ostensibly from Dr Devi Shetty, one other denizen of Karnataka that’s making the rounds. It talks about people who find themselves seemingly fit– like Puneeth was, who take exercising every single day to the extreme– Puneeth allegedly died after figuring out for 2 hours in his fitness center. The message ends with the cheery name for moderation. Eat what your ancestors did, and train carefully, the message stated. Faux although it’s, the message resonated with many, together with me, partly as a result of all of us have misplaced family and friends who’re ridiculously younger on this pandemic, and never simply due to Covid. The reality is that I do know 4 individuals who died younger within the final 12 months, all of them due to a coronary heart assault.

When individuals die younger, the general public autopsy consists of their way of life. Puneeth was identified to be a health fiend, and instantly, that’s being referred to as in query. A pal of mine cancelled a marathon as a result of he’s precisely Puneeth’s age (46) and his spouse is freaked out by his “excessive health” as she calls it.

To me, the message in Puneeth Rajkumar’s loss of life will not be about altering your way of life or your health routine. It isn’t even about moderation or being cautious about what proteins or steroids or muscle relaxants you’re taking. It’s the limits of human intervention and being humble about what you’ll be able to management.

Folks say that the one sure issues are loss of life and taxes. To that shortlist, I add ache. The one factor that lies in your future and mine is heartbreak. Some months in the past, our household endured the lack of a younger person– additionally of a coronary heart assault. It was horrible, unfair and heartbreaking. We’re nonetheless reconciling with this loss– simply as Puneeth’s spouse, Ashwini and his two daughters, Vanditha and Drithi will within the coming months and years.

It’s simple to say that ache is and can at all times be a part of the human situation. However residing via it’s laborious as a result of this ache will hit you when you find yourself least anticipating it. How then to make sense of it?

Properly, our ancients tried to view ache as a pathway to the upper self. When the human ego is crushed, they stated, the soul immediately acknowledges this as a chance to shed what’s not wanted. When the center is damaged, the soul is launched from its prior constellations. It begins the traditional technique of dissolution, dismemberment, and new life. Rebirth. This isn’t a cushty course of. However it’s a essential one.

Not all of us get to do it. Puneeth’s household should.