Payal Rajput couldn’t have dreamt of making her debut in Kannada with a bigger film than Head Bush. Directed by Shoonya, the action drama is said to be a biopic of Bengaluru’s first-ever underworld don Jayaraj (played by Dhananjay), who was in the news during the mid-70s and 80s. Payal plays his girlfriend.
“This is one of the best projects I have landed,” says an excited Payal, adding, “I have been trying to get into Kannada cinema for a long time. When I was approached for the part, I felt this role would be tailor-made for me.”
Apparently, Jayaraj’s girlfriend was from Punjab. Hence, the filmmakers were looking for someone who is a Punjabi and can speak broken Kannada (as Jayaraj’s girlfriend could). They found Payal’s looks to be strikingly similar to the don’s lady love, who was a dancer.
“I was also told that she is still alive, living with her two sons in Punjab. I asked the filmmakers whether I could meet her. They said they can’t promise but they would try,” she says.
Payal, who has been part of the Telugu and Tamil industries and has picked up both languages, says about her Kannada debut, “I love getting introduced to a new audience and to enact different roles. With most films being pan-India, I am glad that my work is getting wide recognition.”
