BANGALORE, India, Oct 29, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Thousands of bereaved cinema
fans thronged the streets of Bangalore on Friday after the sudden death of
regional Indian film star Puneeth Rajkumar from a heart attack at just 46.

  The actor, known as "Powerstar" for his action roles in the Kannada-
language film industry, was admitted to hospital on Friday morning with chest
pains and died shortly afterwards.

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi led tributes, tweeting that a "cruel twist of
fate has snatched away from us a prolific and talented actor... The coming
generations will remember him fondly for his works and wonderful
personality."

  Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj S. Bommai said that Rajkumar was the
state's "most loved superstar... A huge personal loss and one that's
difficult to come to terms with."

  Authorities enhanced security around the actor's house fearing violence by
his fans, some of whom could be seen chasing the ambulance in which his body
was being taken from the hospital.

  Elsewhere his admirers were crying and hugging.

  "It is very painful to have lost him. He was a gem in the Kannada film
industry and he is unforgettable. It is very painful," one bereft fan,
Sandeep, told AFP.

  Local media reports said Rajkumar was rushed to hospital after he collapsed
while working out in his gym.

  Son of another actor known simply as Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar had
recently wrapped up the shoot of "James" and was to begin work on a new film
soon.

  Having made a name for himself as a child actor, he starred in some 30
films, with his debut action-comedy flick "Appu" being one of the biggest
hits.

  Hindi-language Bollywood is India's biggest film industry but the vast
country also produces hundreds of films in its 21 other official languages
every year.

  "It feels as though I have lost a younger brother. My thoughts & prayers go
out to his family with whom I share a close bond," tweeted Mohanlal, a major
star in Malayalam-language cinema in the south Indian state of Kerala.

  Chiranjeevi, a superstar in the Telugu-language film industry, said
Rajkumar's demise was a "huge loss" to the Kannada industry and the Indian
film fraternity at large.

  Rajkumar is survived by wife Ashwini Revanth and has two children.