Bangalore: Kannada thespian Rajkumar felt "relieved" and was not "excited" by the death of forest brigand Veerappan, who held him captive in the forests for 109 days.

Rajkumar, who was in a happy addressing a press conference in the company of his family members at his house in Bangalore said that he was waiting to take a trip "fearlessly" to his native Dodda Gajanur, located on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border from where he was kidnapped by the bandit on July 30, 2000.

"A nuisance which held the nation for ransom finally has ended," Rajkumar said describing Veerappan as a "cruel animal" and a "bad worm".

Pointing that the killing of Veerappan was not enough, Rajkumar cautioned, "It is a upa samhara, (part elimination). There are other worms in the forest who have followed Veerappan footprints, they also should be eliminated."

"I didn't have any excitement when I heard Veerappan is dead at about 12-30 am and was relieved the nuisance had ended," the Kannada film icon, expressing gratitude to Tamil Nationalist Leader P Nedumaran, whose intervention helped him to get released from the clutches of the forest brigand.

"He is like an actor who played a character. Thank heavens, it is over. The nuisance has ended, this is what I feel," Rajkumar said, but remained elusive when asked whether any ransom was paid to Veerappan for his release.