“It is rare to find people as grounded and selfless as Dhananjaya in today’s world,” says singer-composer Raghu Dixit

Daali Dhanajaya’s steep rise in stardom in the past few years can be attributed to many factors. Talent, of course, is likely to top the list for the actor’s filmography today boasts of films of every kind – from playing the maniacal bad guy in Tagaru to being the everyday joe in Ratnan Prapancha, Dhananjaya has done it all – but one can attest to the fact that success in the film industry demands more than just talent. Dhananjaya has also shown perseverance through these years and stands tall today as a bonafide self-made actor but what makes his story all the more endearing is the fact that he also looked out for his friends who had embarked on a similar journey.

Musician and now film producer Raghu Dixit, who encountered Dhananjaya at a more personal level during the making of Orchestra, Mysuru, suggests that the actor’s most rewarding quality is his simplicity. “It is rare that you find actors or people, in general, in today’s world who selflessly look out for others,” says Dixit and voluntarily commends Dhananjaya for the way he has been emotionally attached to the film (Orchestra, Mysuru).

“He (Dhananjaya) was so involved with the project not just because he was the lyricist but he genuinely wanted his pals to do well. I have to really appreciate how he has stood by his boy all along, just as they have been by his side when he was coming up the ranks in the film industry. They have been together in Mysuru for many years as theatre artists and collectively decided to move to Bengaluru to pursue a career as film actors. It just so happened that Dhananjaya grew faster than the rest but it is amazing that he has continued to look out for them because they still mean a lot to him. One often finds actors, especially, to be insecure about their stature but here you have someone who’s volunteering to help his friends”.

I remember Dhananjaya saying at the trailer launch event that he may have found success today but that’s mainly been at an individual level. He would feel truly successful when he sees his friends doing as well. These words really touched my heart,” adds Raghu Dixit.

Dhananjaya has written the lyrics of all the eight tracks in Orchestra, Mysuru, aside from making a special appearance in the Maadappa video. On the other hand, he will be soon seen playing a central role in Vijay Milton’s Bairagee which also stars Shiva Rajkumar, Pruthvi Ambaar, Anjali, Yasha Shivakumar, and Saikumar. Dhananjaya will be reuniting with Shivanna for the first time after Tagaru.