This October will mark three years since the unexpected passing of Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar, with his wife Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar emerging as a strong figure amidst her personal grief. Ashwini reflects on staying busy and finding fulfillment in taking on the responsibilities of raising her daughters and carrying forward the projects that she and Puneeth had initiated. She expresses a sense of empowerment in navigating new challenges and making independent decisions, citing an upcoming major film project featuring Yuva Rajkumar as both exciting and nerve-wracking. Despite facing ongoing challenges in making decisions on her own, Ashwini embraces this new phase in her career with enthusiasm and determination.The statement that sed is very scary. At this moment, I am concentrating on developing the script and fine-tuning details for Yuva, who is a rising talent within our family. Additionally, I am scouting scripts for potential projects in the upcoming year. I aim to read or review a minimum of two to three scripts weekly, with the goal of producing at least two to three films annually.
There is a necessity for increased female representation in the film industry, as it creates a sense of ease when more women are present on set. This positive experience was evident during the production of Achaar & Co., where I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process. Despite the presence of several talented women directors in the industry over the years, there remains a lack of female technicians. Breaking into the industry has historically been challenging for women, not just within the Kannada film industry, but also across other language film industries. This disparity needs to be addressed and rectified.
Ensuring the safety of women in the workplace is a universal concern that transcends the film industry, as women worldwide face daily challenges in various professions. Safety should be a priority for everyone, including children and the elderly. As a leader in the industry, I envision my role as creating opportunities for all individuals. Collaboration and support among women are crucial in fostering new opportunities, enabling them to voice their opinions, share their talents, and learn from each other.
The film industry has continually evolved and will continue to do so, driven by exposure to global cinema and the influx of talented newcomers bringing fresh perspectives to storytelling. Despite recent challenges, such as limited OTT platforms acquiring Kannada films, movies like Bheema and Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi have played a part in drawing audiences back to theaters.Experimental films have been resonating with audiences, showcasing the talent of newcomers who require the right platforms and opportunities. The "P" in PRK productions actually stands for Parvathamma, not Puneeth as commonly misunderstood. However, it is now also seen as a tribute to Puneeth. Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar hopes to be acknowledged for creating content-rich films. Although initially preferring to remain behind the scenes, Ashwini now actively participates in events, endorsed by the goodwill associated with being connected to Appu. Despite being more recognizable in public, Ashwini still enjoys casual outings without much disturbance, grateful for the affection received. Engaging with family members to discuss and analyze cinema, Ashwini gains fresh perspectives and aims to continue producing impactful, content-driven films. Reflecting on the accomplished career of her mother-in-law, Parvathamma Rajkumar, Ashwini proudly acknowledges her as the most successful female film producer globally.She felt a strong sense of camaraderie among her colleagues, viewing them as her chosen family. She fondly reminisced about the days when writers, music directors, technicians, and actors would come together for extensive discussions on the films they were collaborating on. Immersed in reading numerous novels, she relied on her intuition to determine if a story had potential for a successful film adaptation. Their focus was solely on creating family-friendly movies at that time, and it is remarkable that 95 percent of the films she worked on turned out to be massive hits. As a female producer, she can rightfully be celebrated as the most accomplished in the world.