It's not about the story, but about telling it the right way

FTER a quiet phase in his career, actor and producer Krishna Ajai Rao is back with Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2, a film made in his production house, and also has him playing the lead in a story that discusses the brutal realities of abuse and injustice.

- CE FEATURES

FTER a quiet phase in his career, actor and producer Krishna Ajai Rao is back with Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2, a film made in his production house, and also has him playing the lead in a story that discusses the brutal realities of abuse and injustice. For Krishna, this comeback is deeply personal. In this candid chat ahead of the film's release, Ajai Rao opens up about choosing a bold subject, and the cost of putting everything on the line.

There was a phase where films weren't working and you took a step back. Was the fight harder than people know?

Absolutely. It wasn't the stories that went wrong—it was the way they were portrayed. When you hear a story, like we did in school—literature, poems, or history—each of us imagines it differently. As an actor, I had a vision. But when that story passes through multiple layers, somewhere the essence gets lost. It's not just about picking a good story; it's about telling it in the right way. Even great stories have failed because they weren't executed properly. In my view, someone who's seen failure closely is far more experienced than someone who hasn't.

Do you see Yuddhakaanda as a turning point?

It has to be. That's the intention. Like Arjuna in the Mahabharata—I'm focused only on the target. I'm done with "what ifs." I want this film to win, not for the hype, but for what it stands for.

What drew you to such a hard-hitting subject?

This story didn't come with hype—Yuddhakaanda as a story came to me as a blissful epiphany. From the first frame, it grips you. There's no waiting, no fluff. I have a sister, a daughter, a wife—and I saw their faces in this story. It wasn't just another film; it felt like a calling. Some films ask for your attention. This one demands it.

There's been chatter about your debts than your role in the film, and your daughter's video that went viral. Do you want to address that?