Puneet Rajakumar launches second film The actor might sing in Abhi as well like he did in the popular Appu

M D Riti in Bangalore

Barely six months after the release of his first film as an adult star, Puneet Rajakumar, youngest son of Kannada superstar Rajakumar, has already launched his second film.

"We would have started this film even earlier," says Puneet's mother Parvathamma, who is producing the film. "But were searching for a good subject. We waited until we found one."

His first was Appu (after Puneet's nickname). This second film is called Abhi, short for Abhilash, the name of Puneet's character in the film.

Shooting of the film will start only next month, and Puneet is yet to choose a heroine to star opposite him in this romantic film. However, he scheduled the mahurat of the film on Children's Day (November 14), simply because his mother felt that this was the most auspicious day to start the film.

The mahurat was, of course, a grand affair at the front lawns of the Rajakumar family residence in Sadashivanagar. It began with an elaborate pooja. Then, Rajakumar switched on the camera, while ageing but popular hero V Ravichandran sounded the clapboard.

The film will be directed by veteran director Dinesh Babu. Popular young music director Gurukiran will score the music for the film. M S Ramesh has scored the dialogue for the film and V Manohar will edit it.

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There are five songs in it, but they have yet to be recorded. Puneet might well sing one or two of the songs since the song Talibaan alla alla that he sang for Appu was a great hit. Most of this film will be shot in Bangalore, and the rest in Hubli.

"In our days, we never used to agonise over choosing a good subject, like we do now," recalled Rajakumar. "We just went ahead with film subjects that looked good, at first glance. Now that we have so much more experience, we take a lot of trouble to find a good story." This story, according to the director, was inspired by a real life incident, but he refuses to disclose just what that was.

"I am very excited about this film," says Puneet, smiling engagingly. "I hope I do justice to it."

Photographs: KM Veeresh