Actor Puneeth Rajkumar did not take steroids, but heart was stressed due to vigorous exercise

BENGALURU: Family sources of Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar have confirmed that the actor was not taking any medications or steroids before or at the time of his death.

Some fans had compared the sudden death of Rajkumar to that of young Bollywood actor Sidharth Shukla who similarly died due to heart attack in Mumbai and alleged that Rajkumar could be taking some drugs or steroids for bodybuilding. ALSO READ: Late South star Puneeth Rajkumar to be awarded Karnataka Ratna

His family was quick to deny these allegations and said Rajkumar was over exercising, which stressed his heart.

According to a gym trainer at the same gym where Puneeth Rajkumar used to work out, the actor had put on some extra weight and wanted to loose it and hence was working out more vigorously than before.

This was possibly the reason why his heart and cardiovascular system was stressed to a point of breaking down, said a family member.

Meanwhile, on Saturday Balakrishna, Jr NTR, and Prabhu Deva paid their last respects to Kannada film actor Puneeth Rajkumar at Bengaluru’s Kanteerava Stadium.

Rajkumar passed away on Friday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. The actor’s last rites will be performed on Sunday in presence of close family members and friends at the Kanteerava Stadium.

Rajkumar’s daughter, Vanditha Rajkumar, who stays in the USA, where she is currently studying reached Bengaluru.

The actor’s funeral was earlier scheduled to take place on Saturday evening at Bengaluru’s Kanteerava Studios.

However, Karnataka CM said that “performing the last rites after 6 PM in a small space would be challenging.”

“Considering all the factors and after discussing with his (Rajkumar’s) brothers Raghavendra Rajkumar and Shivrajkumar, we have decided that the last rites will be performed tomorrow (Sunday).”