Punnapra Appachan, Dileep Kumar's Duniya Co-Star, Dies At 77

Film

star Punnapra Appachan, whose real name was J Alphonse, passed away at the age of 77. He died on Monday afternoon while undergoing treatment at the Alappuzha Vandanam Medical College Hospital following a head hemorrhage. The industry, his fans and family members are mourning the demise. The actor had worked in 1000 films and was one of the most loved stars of the industry.

Punnapra Appachan Dies At 77

Punnapra Appachan made his acting debut in 1965 with the film Othenante Makan, produced by Udaya Studio and starring Sathyan. Appachan, who went to Punnaprayag to watch the shooting, got a small role through a friend who was a manager in the film. After that, he never looked back and got roles in all of Udaya's films. The actor also got a notable role in the film Manjilasin Anubhavangal Pailchakal which brought him a lot of fame. His role as the Chief Minister in the film The King also garnered attention.

Professional Front

Appachan also acted alongside Bollywood star Dileep Kumar in Duniya, where he played a sub-inspector who arrests Dileep’s character Mohan Kumar, framed for murder. The shooting of the film took place in Ernakulam. Director Vinayan, in a heartfelt post on social media, remembered how the actor donned various roles in films over the decades. "I knew him long before he joined cinema. I met him once at Udaya Pictures studio. He was someone who kept his love cinema till his dying breath. Adieu," he wrote paying tribute to the late actor.