Bengaluru Police Commissioner said Puneeth Rajkumar's death rites are scheduled today.

The death rites of Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar are expected to be performed on Saturday, according to Bengaluru Police Commissioner, adding that his family would make the final decision about the funeral. Puneeth Rajkumar, a Kannada cinema actor and television personality, died after a heart attack on Friday. He was 46 years old at the time.

"On the basis of the decision taken by Puneeth Rajkumar's family, the next stage of security arrangements will be made. The family will take a call on when the final rites will be performed. Probably, the last rites will be done today itself," said Bengaluru Police commissioner Kamal Pant.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Puneeth Rajkumar's admirers flocked to Bengaluru's Kanteerava Stadium to pay their tributes to the actor, according to ANI. The actor's mortal remains, covered in the national tricolour, have been held at the stadium all day Saturday to let fans and well-wishers to pay their condolences.

The actor died on Friday after suffering a major heart attack while working out in the gym for two hours, leaving his fans and colleagues surprised and heartbroken. Many people were perplexed as to how a young man who appeared to be robust and healthy could have died so quickly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and various other political leaders paid tribute to Puneeth shortly after his death was announced.

"A cruel twist of fate has snatched away from us a prolific and talented actor, Puneeth Rajkumar. This was no age to go. The coming generations will remember him fondly for his works and wonderful personality. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," tweeted PM Modi.

For his impressive performance in a series of commercially successful Kannada films, he was called as 'Powerstar.' He was not just a movie star in films like Appu, but also a celebrity television personality and a vocalist on occasion.

His wife and two daughters are the only survivors of the actor.