They say there is only one good son and every father has one, but Ajith Jayraj, son of dreaded don of yesteryears M P Jayaraj, reverses the sentiment saying, “There is only one good father and every son has one.” Jayaraj was one of the first underworld dons in Bengaluru. Ajith is an upcoming actor and is about to make a film on his father.
“There is no rule that a doctor’s son should be a doctor. My father was considered a don, but I have chosen a creative field where there is violence but in an artistic manner,” says Ajith.
He is proud to be his father’s son, Although Jayaraj passed away when Ajith was just eight months’ old, he believes the don was the Robin Hood of the city.
“There are many things people don’t know about him, which I want to bring out. I believe there was goodness in my father. There is a slum near our area where people still keep his picture next to a god’s image. He had a lot of fans. I intend to show everything about him and his journey without diluting it. I know how my mother struggled to get me to this stage without anybody’s help,” says the actor, who debuted with the moderately-successful film Agamya.
Ajith has just started shooting for his third film, Trataka. It is also director Shiva Ganesh’s second film, who made his mark in Kannada with Jigarthanda. “Trataka is a Kannada and Tamil film. (Kannada actor) Rahul will be featured with me in the Kannada version, while I will be associating with Ajmal Ameer in the Tamil film,” says Ajith.
Ajith was supposed to do Aa Dinagalu, a film inspired by the lives of his father and dreaded underworld don of Bengaluru in the 70s, Kotwal Ramachandra, but the role went to Kannada actor Chetan. “I was not fit. Sridhar uncle (Agni Sridhar) was a very close friend, with whom I discussed my passion for acting. I weighed 108 kg then, and I knew I had to be fit. So I started working out and even joined skating classes. I reduced my weight to 78 kg,” says Ajith, who is also a national-level skating champion.
The actor is now actively involved in another film on his father, which will be directed by Bhagat. “Bhagat is in touch with people whom my father knew, and is collecting stories. We want to bring out a realistic film. I will be playing the younger version of my father. They are looking for two-three actors who will be playing his older version,” explains Ajith. “I am busy with four films. I will think whether I can make this movie under my own production,” he says.