This October marks three years since the unexpected passing of Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar. During this time, his wife Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar has shown remarkable strength in the face of her personal loss. Ashwini, who has been diligently balancing the upbringing of her two daughters with continuing the projects she and Puneeth had begun, expresses her gratitude for staying busy and fully occupied. She now carries the full weight of responsibility on her shoulders and faces new challenges every day. Despite this, she finds joy in her work, describing it as a positive phase. Reflecting on her journey, Ashwini shares that all the films she has worked on so far had Puneeth's approval. However, her experiences in the last two years have given her the confidence to make independent decisions. She mentions an upcoming project with Yuva Rajkumar as the lead, expressing a mix of excitement and nervousness as she navigates the process of decision-making on her own. Ashwini admits that while she has a dedicated team, making the final call remains a challenging task. She recalls a significant decision she had to make regarding a project called Achaar & Co., which she ultimately led to success despite initial uncertainties. As Ashwini looks ahead to the future, she acknowledges that the upcoming movies will be entirely her responsibility.The film industry is always evolving and it can be intimidating. Currently, I am working on developing the script and details for Yuva, a promising talent within our family. I am also scouting for scripts to work on in the upcoming year. I make it a point to read or listen to at least two to three scripts weekly with the aim of producing two to three films annually.

The need for more women in cinema is evident, as their presence brings a sense of comfort on the set. This positive experience was evident during the making of Achaar & Co. While there have been talented women directors in the industry over the years, the number of female technicians remains inadequate. Breaking into the industry has always been challenging for women, which is a common struggle not only in the Kannada film industry but also in other language film industries.

Ensuring the safety of women in the workplace is crucial, as this is a global issue that affects women across professions. Women, along with children and the elderly, deserve a safe environment. As a leader in the industry, I see my role as creating opportunities for everyone. Collaboration among women to foster new opportunities, enabling them to voice their opinions and be seen and heard is essential.

The film industry is undergoing constant evolution driven by exposure to world cinema and the influx of talented newcomers with fresh perspectives on storytelling. However, recent times have posed challenges, especially with the absence of OTT platforms acquiring Kannada films. Nonetheless, films like Bheema and Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi have helped revitalize interest in theatrical releases.To some extent, we have experimental films that leave a lasting impact on audiences. I have noticed a plethora of talented newcomers here, and our focus should be on providing them with the right opportunities and platforms. The "P" in PRK productions actually refers to Parvathamma, not Puneeth as commonly misunderstood. Nowadays, it is also seen as a tribute to Puneeth. Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar expressed his desire to be recognized for creating movies driven by quality content. While he used to prefer being behind the scenes, he now actively participates in events due to the respect people have for Appu. He appreciates the love he receives from the public and enjoys spending time discussing films and characterizations with his nephews and daughters. As a filmmaker, he aims to be recognized for producing high-quality, content-driven films. Reflecting on his accomplished mother-in-law, he proudly acknowledges her as the most successful female film producer in the world.She considered her team as family. Remembering the days when writers, music directors, technicians, actors, and more would gather to brainstorm about the film they were collaborating on for extended periods. She immersed herself in novels, relying on her intuition to determine if a story had potential for the big screen. During that era, they focused on making family-friendly movies, and remarkably, 95 percent of the films she produced became blockbuster hits. I proudly declare her as the most accomplished female producer globally.