Dhananjaya spotted in his role as insurance agent in Ratnan Prapancha

Ever since the state government allowed film shoots to resume, several crews have been heading to one of the nearest and most popular locations — Mysuru. Take, for instance, Sriimurali and Ashika Ranganath, who had a major schedule of Madagaja in the city, as well Sathish Ninasam and Hariprriya, who began shooting for Petromax through the Dasara festivities. Right now, Mysureans may be privvy to the action of the Rohit Padaki-directed Ratnan Prapancha, several sequences of which were being shot along busy roads in the city.The film has Dhananjaya and Reba Monica John in lead roles and here’s what we saw…
Ratnan Prapancha is not like my recent commercial outings: Dhananjaya
Dhananjaya, whose career graph has been on the upswing with films like Tagaru and Popcorn Monkey Tiger, plays an insurance agent in Ratnan Prapancha. The film, he says, is nothing like his commercial outings and sees him play a normal, middle-class guy. “I play Ratnakara, an insurance agent who works over time, to make a living for his family. The film’s subject is very different, and will be relatable for family audiences. Umashree plays my mother and is a part of the Mysuru schedule. It is a great experience to work with her. In the second schedule, we will shoot in Bengaluru, Gadag and later in Kashmir. After a slew of massy movies, I am back to playing a normal guy, much like how I was in Director’s Special,” says Dhananjaya, who was seen riding a bike across city roads as part of the shoot.
On shooting during the pandemic, he says, “We have to get adjusted to the new normal until a vaccination is out. It is tough for actors to maintain protocol, as fans ask for selfies, which we can’t deny. I have shot for four different movies since the lockdown; sometimes even junior artists ask for photographs, which makes it difficult to maintain social distance.”
Safety is top priority on the set, says director
For another sequence, the team headed to a defunct wedding hall in the heart of the city. Before commencing shooting, every member of the crew and cast was subjected to thermal screening, wearing of masks was compulsory for crew, while every half an hour, crew and cast were made to sanitise their hands. Director Rohit says, “Ratnan Prapancha is a complete family drama; it’s a story that takes place in every normal middle-class household. There is a clear mother and son sentiment, but one that does not involve melodrama. This is a story of how middle-class people lead happy lives by inculcating values, despite having limited financial resources.”