Ajai Rao: Yuddhakaanda proved that I can handle a content-rich social drama
Kannada actor-producer Ajai Rao weighs in on the impact of the success of Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 on his career. The film is now streaming on Prime Video
Krishna Ajai Rao plays a lawyer in Yudhakaanda
Last Updated: 11.11 PM, Jun 21, 2025
It’d been a while since Kannada actor Ajai Rao had a successful theatrical outing, so he’s quite elated at the 50-day run of his latest, Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 and the positive feedback he received for the film back then and now, after its OTT release. Prior to the release, Ajai had said that he’d produced the courtroom drama to give his career a fillip and put him in the league of mainstream heroes and if his upcoming filmography is anything to go by, it seems that Yuddhakaanda helped him achieve that aim.
Ajai Rao: Getting people to theatres is the bigger victory
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a new film’s launch, an untitled family thriller directed by SK Baahubali, Ajai said that the success of Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 has improved the confidence that filmmakers and audiences had in him. “They knew that I am a good artiste, but now, they also know that I can shoulder a content-rich social drama. Both filmmakers and audiences are now confident in my ability to handle such subjects and give it the reach it demands. This is a far bigger victory for me than the film’s commercial success,” Ajai told FDFS Kannada.
The actor-producer also revealed that he is yet to close the satellite rights deal of Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 because he has not been aggressively pursuing conversations, given his acting schedules. He is, however, hopeful of signing up with a network shortly. “In fact, the OTT deal also happened organically; I didn’t have to chase the platform. My plan was only to get audiences to theatres and on that count, I have emerged victorious,” said the actor.
Meanwhile, Ajai’s upcoming slate of films includes a period film called Sarala Subba Rao and another as-yet-untitled project, which is nearing completion, apart from the new project with Baahubali. His next release will be Sarala Subba Rao, after which promotions of the other film will begin, a strategy that the team is following to maintain some freshness around the movie.