Dhananjaya’s look in his next inspired by top cop Annamalai

Dhananjaya, who has been quite busy with long schedules of Suri’s

Popcorn Monkey Tiger

, has begun shooting for Salaga, the directorial debut of actor Duniya Vijay. And the role, he says, is a dream come true for Dhananjaya.

“When I was young, I remember telling everyone that I wanted to become a policeman when I grow up. In fact, for most kids there is something magical connected with men in uniform. I’m glad that I get to play a cop who is similar to the ones I have admired all my life,” says Dhananjaya.

The actor sports a clean-shaven look in the film, which, he says, would be a take on top cop

Annamalai

K’s look. The actor says that he admires sincere cops like Annamalai and likes how the officer is well turned out all the time with short hair and a clean-shaven face. “I was a little apprehensive when I was readying to shave my facial fuzz fully. Those who saw me after said they liked it, which made me happy and convinced that my decision to go clean-shaven was right,” says the actor.

Another interesting fact is that Dhananjaya’s close friends are sub-inspectors in some of Bengaluru’s stations. “I’ve discussed with them details and intricacies for this role. My character, Samrat, is an ACP and is a key character in this story that deals with the nexus between cops and gangsters,” says Dhananjaya, who will finish shooting for this before joining the sets of Yuvarathnaa and Pogaru.