<p>I have a feeling that 2020 is going to be lucky for me because a host of my films will release this year.</p>.<p>My latest film ‘Aadyaa’, which will release on February 21, is a thrilling story of a young businessman who comes to Bengaluru in search of a child.</p>.<p>The film has action, adventure and drama and has many edge-of-the-seat moments. The title is the name of a child but why the child becomes the central theme lends curiosity to the story.</p>.<p>As an actor, I have always chosen films that are performance-oriented and have a strong subject. I have always chosen quality over quantity but there was a phase when I didn’t have any work. That’s when I decided to take up more films while remaining choosy about the content.</p>.<p>People often ask me if my decision to become an actor was a natural progression. I tell them that I spent most of my vacations at shooting locations, thanks to my uncle (Arjun Sarja) who is an actor. I grew up amid conversations centred around films. I later studied filmmaking but realised that practical lessons were far more enriching than theory classes. I often get compared to my uncle and I consider it a privilege to be equated to an actor of such great stature. It makes me feel more responsible to live up to the expectations of people.<br />The Kannada film industry has changed from when I began my career. Last year saw the release of more than 240 films; about seven to eight films released in a week.</p>.<p>However, I find that more people prefer to watch other language films over Kannada movies. I wonder why nobody likes to watch Kannada films. Though OTT platforms are a big competition to the film industry, we hope the charm of watching a movie in the theatre doesn’t fade away.</p>.<p>My craze for films goes back to my childhood. I completed my schooling at Baldwin Boys’ High School and Kumarans and later went to Vijaya Junior College.</p>.<p>I watched at least two or three films daily after school. I also managed to make a bunch of friends in college who shared an equal craze for films. We would all watch films together and the tradition still continues.</p>.<p>I cherish my time spent with my old buddies and I am most comfortable in their company.</p>.<p>Another childhood interest that I continue to indulge in is collecting coins and currency notes from across the world. Every currency has a story behind it.</p>.<p>And being a student of history, I enjoy reading and researching on the currency and its origin. However busy I may be, I make time for my hobby. <br /><br />(As told to Nina C George) </p>
<p>I have a feeling that 2020 is going to be lucky for me because a host of my films will release this year.</p>.<p>My latest film ‘Aadyaa’, which will release on February 21, is a thrilling story of a young businessman who comes to Bengaluru in search of a child.</p>.<p>The film has action, adventure and drama and has many edge-of-the-seat moments. The title is the name of a child but why the child becomes the central theme lends curiosity to the story.</p>.<p>As an actor, I have always chosen films that are performance-oriented and have a strong subject. I have always chosen quality over quantity but there was a phase when I didn’t have any work. That’s when I decided to take up more films while remaining choosy about the content.</p>.<p>People often ask me if my decision to become an actor was a natural progression. I tell them that I spent most of my vacations at shooting locations, thanks to my uncle (Arjun Sarja) who is an actor. I grew up amid conversations centred around films. I later studied filmmaking but realised that practical lessons were far more enriching than theory classes. I often get compared to my uncle and I consider it a privilege to be equated to an actor of such great stature. It makes me feel more responsible to live up to the expectations of people.<br />The Kannada film industry has changed from when I began my career. Last year saw the release of more than 240 films; about seven to eight films released in a week.</p>.<p>However, I find that more people prefer to watch other language films over Kannada movies. I wonder why nobody likes to watch Kannada films. Though OTT platforms are a big competition to the film industry, we hope the charm of watching a movie in the theatre doesn’t fade away.</p>.<p>My craze for films goes back to my childhood. I completed my schooling at Baldwin Boys’ High School and Kumarans and later went to Vijaya Junior College.</p>.<p>I watched at least two or three films daily after school. I also managed to make a bunch of friends in college who shared an equal craze for films. We would all watch films together and the tradition still continues.</p>.<p>I cherish my time spent with my old buddies and I am most comfortable in their company.</p>.<p>Another childhood interest that I continue to indulge in is collecting coins and currency notes from across the world. Every currency has a story behind it.</p>.<p>And being a student of history, I enjoy reading and researching on the currency and its origin. However busy I may be, I make time for my hobby. <br /><br />(As told to Nina C George) </p>
