Dhananjay (actor)
Daali Dhananjaya is an Indian film and theatre actor working in the Kannada film industry.[1] After acting in a host of theater acts, he made his feature film debut in Director's Special in 2013. He fetched the debut actor award at the SIIMA Awards for his performance in the film.[2] He is endearingly referred to as "Special Star" for his appearance in Director's Special and "Classical Star" for his theatre work and classical selection of movies.[3] Performance in Tagaru movie made him popular in Karnataka.
Dhananjay | |
---|---|
Born | Kalenahally, Arasikere, Hassan, Karnataka, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Alma mater | SJCE, Mysuru, Karnataka. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2013–present |
Early life and family
Dhananjaya was born in Kalenhalli village in Arasikere, Hassan district where he studied his high school in St. Mary's High School Arsikere. His childhood was mostly spent by watching and acting in dramas in the village along with his father. He moved to Mysuru to pursue his Engineering degree in Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering and subsequently graduated as a rank student. This lead him to a good job offer from Infosys, Mysuru. However, his interest was set in acting and he used to frequently visit the popular Rangayana theater group in Mysuru. Eventually, he landed up with many acting assignments in the same theater group. He also underwent an acting workshop at Germany facilitated by Germany-based theatre director Christian Stuckl.[4]
Film career
Dhananjaya, with his frequent visits to the Rangayana theater in Mysuru, fetched him many character roles in the regular dramas held there. It was director Guruprasad who noticed his acting skills and gave him an important role in his feature film Director's Special.[5] The film took three years in the making and finally released in 2013 to mixed and negative response at the box-office. However his performance was lauded and many film makers approached him for the roles in their films. He then was cast in A. P. Arjun's next film Rhaatee opposite Shruthi Hariharan under musician V. Harikrishna's debut production. His next was Preetham Gubbi's film Boxer, produced by the Jayanna Films banner, which brought him wide accolades. He was known for his fit boxer's body, which he had achieved by rigorous training.[6][7] He then played the role of 12th C saint poet Allama Prabhu, with elan, undergoing harsh training to master the musical instrument Mridanga and also classical dance. Dhananjaya is donning the villain's role for Director Duniya Suri's film Tagaru, starring Shivarajkumar. His rugged look has already become sensational. He has completed Guruprasad's film Eradane Sala. Meanwhile, he is shooting for Pannaga Bharana's film Happy New Year in which he plays a suave Radio Jackie.
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Bal Ganesh | Varun Dev | Voice role |
2013 | Director's Special | Dhananjaya | Won - SIIMA Award for Best Male Debutant |
2014 | Jayanagar 4th Block | Dhananjaya | Short-film Also story-writer[8] |
2015 | Rhaatee | Raja | |
Boxer | Raja | ||
2016 | Jessie | Jessie | |
Badmaash | Vijay | ||
2017 | Allama | Allama Prabhu | Awarded Basavaratna-2017 |
Eradane Sala | |||
Happy New Year | RJ Danny | ||
2018 | Tagaru | Daali | Nominated - City Cine Awards for Best Villain- Kannada Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadiga Award for Best Supporting Actor SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role - Kannada Filmfare Award Best Supporting Actor -Kannada |
Bhairava Geetha | Bhairava | ||
Life Jothe Ondh Selfie | Karthik | ||
2019 | Yajamana | Mittai Soori | |
2020 | Popcorn Monkey Tiger | Tiger Seena | [9] |
Salaga |
Samrat | Post Production [10] | |
Pogaru |
TBA | Post Production [11] | |
Yuvarathnaa |
Antony Joseph | Filming[12] | |
2021 | Tothapuri |
TBA | Post Production [13] |
Daali |
Daali | Filming [14] | |
Badva Rascal |
TBA | Filming[15] | |
Head Bush |
M.P.Jayaraj | Filming [16] | |
Rathna Prapancha |
Rathnakara | Filming [17] | |
Monsoon Raaga |
TBA | Filming [18][19] | |
Untitled with | TBA | Filming [20] | |
Pushpa |
TBA | Telugu film Filming [21] | |
References
- Dhananjay profile
- Dhananjaya is SIIMA's Best Debutant Actor
- Special Star switches his role
- Dhananjay took acting lessons in Germany
- Software to Sandalwood: A techie's dream come true
- Actor Dhananjaya turns boxer
- Preetham and Dhananjaya to team up for Boxer
- Jayanagar IV Block comes alive in film
- "Daali goes bald for 'Suri Popcorn Monkey Tiger'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- "Duniya Vijay-Dhananjaya in Salaga - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- "Dhananjay: I am an actor first and then a hero or villain". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- "ಪುನೀತ್ 'ಯುವರತ್ನ' ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಡಾಲಿ ಧನಂಜಯ್ ಎಂಟ್ರಿ". Vijaya Karnataka (in Kannada). 13 February 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- "Director Vijayaprasad is the reason I chose Totapuri: Dhananjay". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- "Dhananjay back with negative shades as Daali". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- "Dhananjaya to launch a former courier agent as director - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- "Dhananjay to play MP Jayaraj, Bengaluru's first underworld don - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- "Dhananjay to headline Rohith Padaki's Rathnan Prapancha | Cinemaexpress". m.cinemaexpress.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- "Dhananjay and Rachita Ram join hands for film? - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- "Dhananjay, Rachita Ram's film titled 'Monsoon Raaga'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "Happy Birthday Shivarajkumar: Suriya sends him wishes and announces actor's next film with Dhananjay | PINKVILLA". www.pinkvilla.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- "Pushpa: Kannada star Dhananjay to play a crucial role in Allu Arjun's film". India Today. Retrieved 1 August 2020.