Digital
Appu’s aura goes digital with launch of Puneeth Rajkumar Star Fandom app
MUMBAI: The Power Star has found a new stage, the digital kind. The late Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar’s infectious energy and enduring charisma now live on through pixels and code, as Star Fandom LLP unveils the Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar Star Fandom App, a first-of-its-kind platform blending emotion, technology, and fandom.
Conceptualised by Dr. Samartha Raghava Nagabhushanam, founder chairman of Star Fandom, in collaboration with Smt. Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, the app was launched in the presence of deputy chief minister D. K. Shivakumar. The platform uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and emotion mapping to let fans experience what technology rarely delivers connection with heart.
“Star Fandom was envisioned to bring fans closer to the emotions and values their stars ignite within them,” said Dr. Nagabhushanam. “Puneeth Rajkumar’s aura continues to be the heartbeat of this initiative. With the app, we’ve harnessed AI to make that connection dynamic and personal.”
The app is designed to unite over 70 million fans across the globe, serving as a digital meeting point for Kannadigas and cinema lovers. It reimagines fandom not as a one-way adoration but as a living, evolving relationship between fans and the legacy they love.
Smt. Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar described it as “a space to celebrate Puneeth, learn from his values, and keep his energy alive every day.”
And there’s plenty within the app to keep the spirit of Appu alive:
● Podcasts – For the first time, Smt. Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar opens up about her journey with Puneeth and the legacy of the Rajkumar family. Hosted by Anushree, the series features friends, colleagues, and collaborators sharing unseen memories and heartfelt anecdotes.
● Chota Appu – A playful, inspiring corner for children filled with stories and rhymes inspired by Appu, nurturing creativity and kindness.
● Puneeth-Inspired Fitness – Guided workouts modelled on the Power Star’s discipline and positivity, letting fans train like their hero.
● Quizzes & Puzzles – Fun challenges celebrating Puneeth’s cinematic milestones and Sandalwood culture.
● Sandalwood Pulse – A news hub tracking everything from new releases to behind-the-scenes stories across Kannada cinema.
● Connect to Connect – A collaborative digital space bringing together fans, artists, and technicians to co-create and share ideas.
● Daily Vibes – Wallpapers, stickers, and personalised content that keep the Power Star’s infectious positivity glowing on every device.
But this isn’t just a nostalgia app, it’s a tech-forward tribute that learns and evolves. With AI and emotion mapping, each interaction shapes a personalised journey, making the experience as unique as every fan’s connection to Puneeth.
For Star Fandom LLP, founded to bridge the gap between celebrities and their audiences, the app is just the first step. “We see Star Fandom as a blueprint for a new digital era of engagement,” Dr. Nagabhushanam added. “An era where emotion, innovation, and community come together to create living, lasting connections that transcend generations.”
Now available globally on Android and iOS, the Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar Star Fandom App ensures that the Power Star’s light doesn’t just shine on screen, it glows in every fan’s palm.
Digital
Ethical AI must benefit society, not dominate it, says WFEB chief Sanjay Pradhan at IAA event
At Mumbai event, ethics expert urges businesses and governments to shape AI responsibly
MUMBAI: Artificial intelligence may be racing ahead at lightning speed, but its direction must still be guided by human conscience. That was the central message delivered by Sanjay Pradhan, president of the World Forum for Ethics in Business (WFEB), during the latest edition of IAA Conversations held in Mumbai.
The session was organised by the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Artificial Intelligence Association of India (AIAI) in association with The Free Press Journal at the Free Press House on 7 March. Addressing a packed audience, Pradhan called for stronger ethical leadership to ensure AI remains a tool that benefits humanity rather than one that governs it.
“Artificial intelligence has rapidly become one of the most powerful technologies humanity has created,” Pradhan said. “It is unlocking breakthroughs in medicine, science and creativity at a pace unimaginable just a few years ago.”
But he warned that the same technology carries serious risks. AI, he noted, can amplify disinformation faster than facts can travel, compromise privacy, deepen discrimination and disrupt millions of livelihoods. Referencing concerns raised by AI pioneers such as Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, Pradhan stressed that the real challenge is not whether AI will shape the world, but whether humans will shape it with ethics and wisdom.
Structuring his talk around four guiding questions, why, what, how and who, Pradhan introduced the audience to WFEB’s emerging AI Ethics Partnership, a global platform aimed at advancing responsible artificial intelligence. He outlined four priority concerns that demand urgent attention: disinformation, bias and discrimination, data privacy and job security.
To make the idea of ethical AI easier to grasp, Pradhan offered a simple metaphor. Ethical AI, he said, is like a three layered cake. The outer layer represents the visible value ethical AI creates for businesses and society. The middle layer is organisational culture that moves ethics from written codes to everyday practice. The innermost layer, however, is the most crucial, the conscience of individual leaders.
Drawing from Indian philosophical thought through WFEB co-founder Ravi Shankar, Pradhan noted that while artificial intelligence can reproduce stored knowledge, true intelligence is boundless and rooted in conscience, creativity and compassion. Practices such as breathwork and meditation, he suggested, can help leaders develop the calm clarity needed for ethical decision making.
The event also featured a discussion with Maninder Adityaraj Singh, chief of staff and head of innovation at Rediffusion Brand Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Yash Johri, lawyer, Supreme Court of India.
Opening the session, IAA India chapter president Abhishek Karnani, highlighted the need for industries to understand and engage with AI responsibly.
“AI has to be befriended and understood,” added Rediffusion managing director and AIAI national convenor Sandeep Goyal. “Its ethical use will determine whether it becomes a friend or a foe.”
As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, Pradhan ended with a simple but powerful call to action. Businesses, governments and individuals must work together to ensure that the algorithms shaping the future reflect human values rather than just cold logic.
