India Post unveiled a set of five picture postcards featuring the late Kannada cinema icon Puneeth Rajkumar on Monday, commemorating his legacy ahead of his 50th birth anniversary. The initiative, launched in collaboration with Appu’s Gandhadagudi Agarbathie, celebrates the actor’s enduring impact on Indian cinema and his beloved status among fans.

S Rajendra Kumar, Chief Postmaster General of Karnataka Circle, India Post, told PTI, “To mark Puneeth Rajkumar’s 50th birth anniversary, we’ve introduced these picture postcards.” He added that a Special Cancellation will also be issued on March 17, the actor’s birthday, offering collectors a chance to obtain it from Karnataka’s philatelic bureaus or apply it to the postcards. The move has sparked excitement among fans and philatelists alike.

Affectionately nicknamed “Appu” after his breakthrough lead role in the 2002 film Appu, Puneeth Rajkumar was a towering figure in Kannada cinema, starring in 32 films as a lead actor. The youngest son of legendary actor Dr. Rajkumar, Puneeth began his career as a child artist, earning a National Film Award for Best Child Artist for Bettada Hoovu (1985). His sudden death from a heart attack on October 29, 2021, at age 46, left a void in the industry and among his legion of admirers.

The postcards serve as a tribute to his cinematic contributions and personal charm, ensuring his memory endures. Fans have taken to social media to laud the gesture, with many calling it a fitting honor for Karnataka’s cherished “Power Star.”