Team Dhairyam gets subjected to a rapid fire round

The team of today’s release,

Dhairyam

, visited the Bangalore Times office recently for an interaction that was like none other we have had so far. Actors

Krishna Ajai Rao

and Aditi Prabhudeva, and director R

Shivatejas

were in for a surprise when they faced a volley of questions in our rapid fire round. What followed were many minutes of laughter and some rather interesting answers. Here’s how it all went down…

What is the first thing that pops into your mind when we say the following…
LOVE
Ajai: Mother.
Shivatejas: Mother.
Aditi: Krishna.
DHAIRYAM
Ajai and Shivatejas together: Sarvatra sadhanam.
Aditi: Me.
RAIN
Ajai: Shiva (the director).
Shivatejas: My wedding.
Aditi: Romance.
CANDLE LIGHT
Aditi: Waiting for my boyfriend.
Ajai: Waiting for electricity to come back.
Ajai asks Shivatejas: First night? (everyone laughs)
BEACH
Ajai: Loneliness.
Aditi: Long walks.
Shivatejas: Cool breeze and relaxation.

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what would you like to carry with you and the two people you want with you?
Aditi asks Ajai: Not me? The most entertaining girl in the world!
Ajai: (laughs) I won’t ever go to a deserted island.
Aditi: I will answer for him. He will take his mother and wife, and a bottle of beer.
Ajai: I’ll take my phone and internet — no people, just gadgets.
Aditi: I would take my mother, my future boyfriend and some musical instrument.
Shivatejas: I will take my producer, a pen and paper. It will be quiet, making it a perfect place to write a script.

Have you ever fantasized about a co-star?
Ajai: Yes Kajol; she’s Ajay Devgn’s co-star, so… (laughs). Apart from her, no one.
Aditi: Ya (points at Ajai). I’m a very frank and open person (laughs).

If you weren’t an actor, you would be...
Ajai: I wouldn’t be born.
Aditi: I’m an engineer, so I would be working in some company.



Ajai and Aditi, if you woke up as each other, what is the first thing that you would do?
Aditi: I would change my personality. I will talk more and open up about my feelings.
Ajai: I would fall in love with myself.

What is your favourite pick up line that you have used or has been used on you?
Ajai: I have no pickup line.
Aditi: No one has used one on me. But if I had to use one, I would say I love you; I would be direct.

Who is the hottest actor/actress in the industry currently?
Aditi: Prabhas! And in Sandalwood, Darshan.
Ajai: Aditi Prabhudeva.

Which is the one film that you would have done better?
Ajai: All of them. I’m the best hero.

Ajai, what is the one thing that you had to change after getting married?
Many things. I have started saving money now. I don’t run behind money, but I do think about it now.

Aditi, which hero in Sandalwood would you date, given a choice — Dhananjaya, Diganth, Rakshit Shetty, Anish Tejeshwar, Nikhil Kumar or Suraj Gowda?
Aditi: I wouldn’t want to go on a date with any of them.
Ajai: You can add one more name to that list — Ajai Rao.
Aditi: OK, I would pick Ajai sir or Darshan.

If your life had a soundtrack, which song would be the title track?
Ajai: Hosa Belaku Moodutide.
Aditi: Nagu Nagutha Nalli.
Shivatejas: Hosa Belaku Moodutide.

Which actor/actress inspired you to take up acting?
Ajai: Rishtey mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hai! (laughs) Amitabh Bachchan.
Aditi: I love Kalpanaji and now, Radhika Pandit. I respect her a lot.

What is your ideal romantic getaway?
Aditi: My room, a candle in the middle of the room, beautiful music and my boy.
Ajai: The same, seriously! It’s a coincidence.

Which actor/actress are you jealous of?
Ajai: No one. I am satisfied with all that I have. But I do wish that I could be like Amitabh Bachchan. He is the sexiest man on Earth. Of course, for the next gen, god has given Ajai Rao (laughs).
Aditi: No one.

If you could be PM for a day, what would you change?
Ajai: I am zero when it comes to politics, management and leadership. I think our current PM is the best. Nothing can be done in a day. I would only be able to sign my post, sit in my seat and take selfies.
Aditi: I also wouldn’t be able to do much in a day, but if I could, I wouldn’t want there to be any differentiation between people. I would ensure that everyone’s equal.

If you had a super power, what would it be?
Ajai: My all-time favourite superhero is Superman. When I was a child, I would tie bed sheets and towels on my shoulder and try to fly like him. I still wear Superman T-shirts and caps.
Aditi: I play a nagin in

Nagakannike

and dream that one day I can be my character in real life.

Ajai, who is your favourite co-star?
Radhika Pandit and Aditi. I really like Aditi’s presence on the set — she’s very lively and easily transforms from being naughty off screen, to serious when she’s on camera. One needs to be active on the set and that charm carries onscreen. I have seen that in Radhika and Aditi.

If you were in Bigg Boss, who would you want as housemates?
Aditi: Ajai sir — I will do whatever it takes and make him a talkative person. I would also take Tejas sir (the director), since he is a sweetheart. Apart from them, Radhika Pandit and Prabhas. That’s it.
Ajai: Not Yash?
Aditi: No. He is bhaava (brother-in-law).
Ajai: I would never got to Bigg Boss. Not even in my imagination.

The one things that needs to change in Kannada cinema…
Ajai: The mindset of producers. In our state, there is an audience for films of all languages. To compete with them and make films of large budgets is worth lauding, but producers shouldn’t just think of the market while backing films. Before Taj Mahal, I was a flop hero. I did small roles in films that barely ran for 2-3 days. Only after all that did Taj Mahal happen to me, which became a huge hit. So, the content, the makers and the whole team matters for a film, not just the market. A kingmaker is more important than the king, and the producers have the capacity to make more kings. They must concentrate on content.
Aditi: I think makers should give opportunities to

Kannadiga

actors.
Shivatejas: Yes, and to Kannada directors. We have a lot of local talent, and our industry will only reach greater heights with them.