It was Ambareesh's friend and actor Rajinikanth who insisted that he take up the lead role in Ambi Ning Vayassaytho. “I was initially hesitant since I felt that I was not of the age to take up a full-fledged role. But he suggested that I watch the Tamil film Pa Paandi, before making up my mind. So, I watched the film and loved the character, which is why I took it up,” he says.

Ambareesh who comes from the Puttanna Kanagal school of thought says that when it comes to cinema, nobody is legendary and that every actor in a film is equally important. “A film should speak for itself and Ambi.. will do that,” says the 67-year-old actor, who plays a role of a retired stunt master.

Having worked in about 200 films, Ambareesh says that he has had only a few opportunities to work in novel subjects as he was mostly considered for mass subjects. “I remember playing a doctor in a film, who had five to six fights sequences. In fact, I asked the director, ‘How can doctors fight?’, but the team demanded it. So I did it,” reveals the senior actor, who adds that his own films, Elu Suttina Kote and Mammatheya Madilu, had characters which had a lot of scope for performance. 

Ambi Ning Vayassaytho produced by Jack Manju, with music by Arjun Janya, also stars Suhasini, Sudeep and Sruthi Hariharan. Talking about his director, the Rebel Star says, “Gurudatha Ganiga’s efficiency is worth mentioning. He is very ambitious. Handling me in a film is quite a tough task, but this young boy has managed to bring my character alive.”

While there were speculations of Ambi... being the Rebel star’s last film, he only says, “Maybe.” We’ll have to wait and watch.