Puneeth Rajkumar's James to be released on his birth anniversary?

James, an action entertainer, is helmed by director Chethan Kumar who says: “Fans were expecting the film to release on March 17, which happens to be Puneeth’s birth anniversary. We, as a team, are yet to recover from this unexpected shock, but I assure fans that they will not be disappointed. We will soon meet after all the ceremonies and formalities here are finished to discuss the next course of action for the completion of the film. I had waited all my life to direct Puneeth in a film, but I cannot fathom that it will now end up being his last."

Puneeth, who was last seen in Yuvarathnaa, had almost finished work for James, barring a duet. "The expectations from the film have been crazy ever since it was launched and the fans have been eager to know more about it. We had a day’s patchwork, which Appu sir had shot for and he had then even given 360-degree shots against a green mat for 3D modelling for a lyrical video that we had planned," shares Chethan, who says it must have been no coincidence that those shots were taken.

Filmmaker Pawan Kumar, who was supposed to be shooting with Puneeth for Dvitva, scheduled to go on floors this month, took to social media to share that he had a recording session of his upcoming film at his residence on Saturday.