We will deeply mourn and also lovingly celebrate Puneeth as long as we live

I never thought I would see this day where I had to see him like this. I am shattered by what Ashwini, the kids, his family and friends are facing today. I’m yet to digest that we can’t call him on a whim or meet him in a jiffy.
I knew Puneeth through many circles and we kept bumping into each other many times 25 years ago. He always appreciated me as an English teacher and was proud of my classes, my books and writings and supported me in every far-fetched endeavour of mine.
Puneeth was always in awe of every death-defying ride attempts and he would always make me get his parents blessings before the ride. He would also give me a huge sum for expenses as his parents’ blessings.
His father received me on my touchdown after the Bombay-Bangalore 1023-km record ride in 11 hours 46 minutes exactly 20 years ago. This was a huge boost to the biking community and was exclusively reported by The Times of India. Appaji’s presence and the ToI coverage was what made the ride the talk of the town.
Meeting Puneeth many times every week during the writing of the book made me take up many tasks for him, like the Anna Bond bike that I made, the ‘Jackie’ Trophies that Yogananda designed and executed for the 100th day, coordinating with many Bollywood actors/singers and technicians to work with Puneeth or getting my friend Kunal Ganjawala to sing his most famous hit song, ‘Neene Neene...’
When Puneeth heard the recorded version, and this was way before it became a hit, he just loved the song and thanked me profusely. I was thrilled that I had some part to play in this wish of his that came true.
Those who have not seen him as a friend have missed something invaluable. He used to shower his pals with unbounded affection. We were there for each other’s milestones, joys and sorrows. He welcomed me to his world and made it my world.
Recently when I met him, he beamed about the scholarship that Dhriti had got and he kept saying that it was all Ashwini’s and her efforts, I saw the proud father in him and was so happy that Dhriti had filled a huge void in him since he had not been formally educated and I was so happy to see him like that, praising his daughter.
He met my daughter Shiri sometime back, he hugged her like she was his own daughter and was so happy to see her all grown up as they had not met during COVID. It was the last blessing and Shiri will cherish it all her life. She told me that she never thought that it would be the last time she met Puneeth uncle. Yesterday, Shiri told me, “I do not want to celebrate Deepavali, Papa, don’t feel like it.” When she said this, I felt that if this is what my daughter is going through, his daughters must be going through something immeasurable.
He had an astute ability to grasp knowledge, he was always soft-spoken, never ever lost his cool and was ready to help any genuine cause.
I approached him for many favours for society and he has always graciously and enthusiastically voiced the cause. At my behest, he made two videos, one requesting young kids and adolescents to not sniff Erazex or ‘Seesa’ (glue sniffing) and told them that they would be his heroes if they took care of their lives.
The second video was when he applauded the children of all government schools in India and reiterated that they should study well as they were the future pillars of India.
He treated everyone with love. During shooting, I have been witness to thousands of instances when he would listen to people, empathise with them and give them great strength with his words and further go to great lengths to help them financially right then, instead of promising them stuff later.
I remember the vacation that Puneeth and I took in Malaysia with our families. We had the best of times there, Toto was just two years old and he would spend a lot of time with her, swimming and chilling.
I will never forget the evening when Puneeth, the superstar, walked me with me for an hour or more just to get me vegetarian food. It was something that we could have never done in India, let alone in Bangalore.
Puneeth knew that I wished to meet Amitabh Bachchan and see Rajinikanth, and he has given me the best memories by surprising me and making me meet them.
We will deeply mourn and also lovingly celebrate Puneeth as long as we live.