Puneeth Birth Anniversary LIVE updates: Fans remember their beloved 'Appu'

In a show of affection, Shivarajkumar named a four-day old baby after his late brother on Colors Kannada's Dancing Champions reality TV show, a tweet showed.

Puneeth's fans in Mysuru showered flowthe theatre screen with flowers and cheered in his honour.

Chief Minister Bommai tweeted his tribute to the late actor saying, "Warm greetings to our beloved Appu, Late #PuneethRajkumar on his Birthday. Entered film industry as a child star & soon became a colossus in the Kannada Cinema.

Your life span was short but achievements eternal. You will always remain heart throb of an entire generation Appu."

As a mark of respect, many theatres across Karnataka are keeping seat 17 empty during the first showings.  Puneeth is said to watch all his movies from that seat. Emotional fans believe Puneet’s soul will be present with them in the theatres and watch the film.

Puneeth Rajkumar's last movie James was welcomed with crazed reactions from fans who would see the actor one last time on the big screen. Fans blew confetti and cheered loudly in celebration inside theatres.

Reportedly, fans are also keeping seat 17 empty in many theatres as it is said to be the seat from where Puneeth would watch his films.

A college in Belagavi announced holiday for its 1st to 3rd semester students on account of late actor Puneeth Rajkumar's birthday and the release of his last movie ‘James’.

“We have walked out of films with varied sentiments but for the first time we will all be walking into the theaters filled with overwhelming emotions,” he wrote.

A fan wrote that he came out of theatres “with nothing but tears”.

Sandalwood star Yash, with whom Puneeth Rajkumar and Shivarajkumar danced with at the pre-release event of Bhajarangi 2 a day before the untimely demise of the Milana-starrer, said, "The smile that never fades, The warmth which can never be matched, An Energy which can never be stopped, A Power which can never be taken away.. He lives on. Happy Birthday Appu sir."

Fellow Kannada actor Rakshit Shetty shared an emotional post, remembering the Rajakumara actor and wishing success to his latest film James, which was the last one ‘Appu’ filmed before passing away unexpectedly in October last year.

Fans celebrated the late actor on another level, with a plane displaying a “Happy Birthday Power Star” message.

Bengaluru Traffic Police honoured the late actor by launching a helmet campaign on his birth anniversary today. 

Late Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar's last film ‘James’ is being screened in theatres today. The film is being released in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam languages in 4000 screens worldwide and running with packed theatres. His human-size cut-outs are donning the streets as fans remember their beloved Appu. Theatres across the state are witnessing huge crowds and emotional scenes .