Thousands of grieving fans flocked the city’s Kanteerava stadium on Saturday to pay their final respects to Kannada film star Puneeth Rajkumar. Considered as the Kannada cinema’s reigning star, Puneeth, youngest of the five children of thespian and matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, passed away at the age of 46, after suffering a cardiac arrest on Friday. Following in the footsteps of his father, Rajkumar, the family has donated Puneeth’s eyes.

Mortal remains of the actor, wrapped in the national tri-colour, have been kept at the Kanteerava Stadium, to enable fans and well-wishers to pay homage all day on Saturday. Several film and political personalities also paid their respects to the departed soul. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accompanied by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other ministers of the state cabinet, Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, and ace choreographer Prabhu Deva, were among those who paid their respects on Saturday. Rajkumar’s last rites will be performed at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.