This October marks three years since the unexpected passing of Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar, and during this time, one individual who has shown remarkable strength amidst her personal mourning is his wife Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar. "I have been very busy, and I appreciate that as it keeps me fully occupied," says Ashwini, who has managed raising her two daughters while carrying forward the projects initiated by both herself and Puneeth. "Now, all responsibilities rest on me. Each day presents new challenges, but I must confess that I am finding fulfillment in my work. This is a positive phase for me," she shares. While mentioning that the films she has been involved in so far were all endorsed by her late husband, Ashwini's recent experiences have bolstered her confidence to make independent decisions. "We are preparing to embark on one of our most significant commercial projects yet, starring Yuva Rajkumar. I am thrilled, yet anxious, as the toughest part is making the right choices," she admits. Reflecting on her journey, Ashwini shares, "Making independent decisions and having the final say remains challenging. Despite having our loyal team by our side since the beginning, deciding and committing alone is still tough. Approving the execution of 'Achaar & Co.' was solely my decision—especially challenging as it was an all-female team. Although uncertain at first, the outcome was tremendously successful, and I am delighted. Moving forward, the films we develop and release will be solely my responsibility. I am eager for the next chapter and hopeful about the journey ahead."Rephrased content:

Currently, I am working on script and details for Yuva, the next promising talent from our family, as well as reviewing scripts for future projects. I try to read or hear about two to three scripts every week with the goal of making two to three films per year. "It is crucial to have more women in the film industry," as their presence creates a sense of comfort on set. Although we have seen great women directors over the years, there is a lack of women technicians in the industry. Breaking into the field has been challenging for women, not just in Kannada cinema but in all language film industries. It is important for this situation to change. The safety of women in the workplace is a global issue, affecting women in all professions. As a leader in the industry, I strive to create opportunities and support women to be heard and seen. The film industry is evolving with exposure to world cinema and the influx of talented newcomers bringing fresh perspectives to storytelling. Despite challenges like OTT platforms not buying Kannada films, recent releases like "Bheema" and "Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi" have encouraged audiences to return to theaters.Experimental films are making an impact on audiences to some extent. There are many talented newcomers in our midst, and what we need to do is provide them with the right platforms and opportunities. The "P" in PRK productions actually stands for Parvathamma, not Puneeth as commonly misunderstood. It is now also seen as a tribute to Puneeth.

Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar expressed a hope to be acknowledged for creating good, content-rich films. While previously content being behind the scenes brought joy, Ashwini now actively participates in various events due to the goodwill towards Appu. Despite being more recognized in public, Ashwini still enjoys simple outings like coffee at a café without much intrusion from people, and is grateful for the love received.

Time spent with nephews and daughters discussing new content, cinema, and character development offers a fresh perspective. Ashwini enjoys watching good films at home or in theaters. As a filmmaker, the focus remains on creating content-driven films and hoping to be recognized for such work. While acknowledging the success of “Achaar & Co”, Ashwini credits the team effort and expresses a desire to continue working on similar movies in the future.

Ashwini also takes pride in mentioning that their mother-in-law, Parvathamma Rajkumar, who was the most successful female film producer globally, stopped working when Ashwini and Appu got married. While not having personally observed her work, Ashwini has heard about Parvathamma’s dedication to cinema from Appu, in-laws, and herself.She considered the film industry as her family. She fondly reminisced about the days when writers, music directors, technicians, and actors gathered for extended periods to brainstorm about the movies they were collaborating on. She was an avid reader of novels and trusted her instincts to determine if a story had potential for adaptation into a film. During that era, they primarily focused on producing family-friendly movies, and it is remarkable that 95 percent of the projects she chose became blockbuster hits. She was a female producer whose success could proudly be deemed as unmatched globally.