<p>Actor Puneeth Rajkumar is arguably one of the biggest and most popular stars in the Kannada film industry and enjoys a strong fan following due to his impressive body of work. ‘Appu’ has starred in quite a few popular films, proving that he is an ‘A-lister’. On Wednesday, as the ace performer turns a year older, here is a look at five films that bear testimony to his talent.</p>.<p><strong>Bettada Hoovu</strong> (1985)</p>.<p>Widely regarded as one of the greatest children’s films of all time, Bettava Hoovu featured a 10-year-old Puneeth in the role of a boy from an underprivileged family. The film received rave reviews from critics and helped the future ‘Powerstar’ win the National Award for the ‘Best Child Artist’.</p>.<p><strong>Appu</strong> (2002)</p>.<p>Puneeth made his debut as a leading man with the 2002 release Appu, which was directed by Telugu filmmaker Puri Jagannadh. It revolved around the exploits of a carefree young man, who is the son of a police constable, and hit the right notes due to its effective presentation. The film emerged as a big hit while receiving rave reviews. It was later remade in Telugu and Tamil as Idiot and Dum with Ravi Teja and Simbu in the lead.</p>.<p><strong>Arasu</strong> (2007)</p>.<p>Puneeth essayed the role of a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) in the Mahesh Babu-directed Arasu, impressing fans with his sincere performance. His scenes with Ramya and Meera Jasmine hit the right notes, adding a new dimension to the film. The movie had a commercial storyline, which helped ‘Appu’ showcase his range as a performer.</p>.<p><strong>Hudugaru</strong> (2011)</p>.<p>The critically-acclaimed drama was a remake of the Tamil film Naadodigal and revolved around four young men, who find themselves in an unenviable situation following a twist of fate. It did well at the box office, helping Puneeth bag a Filmfare Award.</p>.<p><strong>Raajakumara</strong> (2017)</p>.<p>Raajakumara was an action drama with plenty of ‘masala’ to satisfy the target audience. It emerged as an ‘industry hit’, proving that Appu’s star power was second to none. Puneeth’s chemistry with leading lady Priya Anand was a highlight of the movie.</p>
<p>Actor Puneeth Rajkumar is arguably one of the biggest and most popular stars in the Kannada film industry and enjoys a strong fan following due to his impressive body of work. ‘Appu’ has starred in quite a few popular films, proving that he is an ‘A-lister’. On Wednesday, as the ace performer turns a year older, here is a look at five films that bear testimony to his talent.</p>.<p><strong>Bettada Hoovu</strong> (1985)</p>.<p>Widely regarded as one of the greatest children’s films of all time, Bettava Hoovu featured a 10-year-old Puneeth in the role of a boy from an underprivileged family. The film received rave reviews from critics and helped the future ‘Powerstar’ win the National Award for the ‘Best Child Artist’.</p>.<p><strong>Appu</strong> (2002)</p>.<p>Puneeth made his debut as a leading man with the 2002 release Appu, which was directed by Telugu filmmaker Puri Jagannadh. It revolved around the exploits of a carefree young man, who is the son of a police constable, and hit the right notes due to its effective presentation. The film emerged as a big hit while receiving rave reviews. It was later remade in Telugu and Tamil as Idiot and Dum with Ravi Teja and Simbu in the lead.</p>.<p><strong>Arasu</strong> (2007)</p>.<p>Puneeth essayed the role of a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) in the Mahesh Babu-directed Arasu, impressing fans with his sincere performance. His scenes with Ramya and Meera Jasmine hit the right notes, adding a new dimension to the film. The movie had a commercial storyline, which helped ‘Appu’ showcase his range as a performer.</p>.<p><strong>Hudugaru</strong> (2011)</p>.<p>The critically-acclaimed drama was a remake of the Tamil film Naadodigal and revolved around four young men, who find themselves in an unenviable situation following a twist of fate. It did well at the box office, helping Puneeth bag a Filmfare Award.</p>.<p><strong>Raajakumara</strong> (2017)</p>.<p>Raajakumara was an action drama with plenty of ‘masala’ to satisfy the target audience. It emerged as an ‘industry hit’, proving that Appu’s star power was second to none. Puneeth’s chemistry with leading lady Priya Anand was a highlight of the movie.</p>
