BANGALORE: It has definitely been a tough time for Krishna Ajai Rao aka 'Sandalwood Krishna'. After tasting success with Taj Mahal, Krishnan Love Story and Krishnan Marriage Story, the actor seems to have hit an all time low in his career.
His last two films, Breaking News and Advaita ran for just one week. However, the actor refuses to give up and is back with his new release, Rose.
Ajai admits that expectations are running high, specially because he has not had a good release for nearly two years now.
"I don't expect a huge hit; I want people to feel that I have done a good film. I have to survive not just as an actor, but as a good actor. And it all depends on Rose now," he says.
The actor has dedicated himself for over a year to Rose without giving dates to any other films. He even postponed the film which was being made under his production house.
"Rose has a strong script. I play a middle-class guy.
I feel the movie will have
a mass appeal. My character will not be seen as a protagonist in the first half of the movie, but there's a dramatic change in the second half when sacrifice and love make him a hero. That's what attracted me to the character," says Ajai, who is inspired by roles played by Aamir Khan. "I connect to the roles played by Aamir Khan. They are subtle, yet powerful and that is the kind of character that inspires every middle-class person,” he says.
The actor, who has been around in the industry for more than a decade, believes that the success of a film mainly depends on coordination between the director and the actor.
He says, "The director knows the character, and he should be able to convey it to the actor. In the same way, whatever is in the mind of the actor should be transferred to the director. I can rectify my performance as an actor, but there will be minute mistakes with or without intention. One can find their mistakes only after the film releases. Having learnt from my previous experiences, I have now started giving my inputs to the director, discuss elements of the film with him because a man who has seen failure is a better person to guide someone towards success."
The actor who has a lover-boy image says that making a film of any genre is a difficult task.
"Every movie has its own challenges. I don't think that romantic films are tough and action films are easier or vice versa," he says.