President, PM condole Rajkumar's death

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday condoled the death of Kannada cinema icon Rajkumar, describing him as a distinguished and versatile actor whose achievements would be long remembered.

In a message to the actor's wife Parvathamma, Kalam said Rajkumar "will always be remembered for his everlasting contributions to the film industry".

In a separate message, the prime minister said Rajkumar was a versatile personality who had enthralled the nation with his histrionic talents and his mellifluous voice for more than five decades.

Rajkumar died in Bangalore Wednesday of cardiac arrest while he was being rushed to hospital after complaining of chest pain. He was 77.