On set
Cinematography & post
The biggest hurdle? The female actor's perspective. Kannda acter sex open
Currently, male actors (like Darshan in Kranti) get to have "item numbers" and side flings without consequences, but the heroine must remain chaste. True open relationship storytelling requires reciprocity.
In many commercial films, characters (usually the antagonist or a comic relief friend) are shown having multiple partners. This is often used to depict moral corruption or a lack of values, contrasting with the "pure" hero. On set
Historically, several top-tier Kannada male actors have been rumored to maintain long-term relationships with co-stars or associates outside their marriage. However, unlike the Western industry where stars like Will Smith or Miley Cyrus openly discuss polyamory, Sandalwood maintains a wall of silence. The actor on screen cannot play a polyamorous hero because the star off-screen must uphold the image of the "ideal Kannada male."
The exception, perhaps, is the younger generation. While veteran stars refuse to comment, actors in their 30s (like Rakshit Shetty post-divorce, or newcomers like Ganesh’s son) have publicly stated that modern love is "messy." In interviews, they refuse to condemn open relationships, stating, "Who am I to judge two consenting adults?" Cinematography & post
Yet, a hypocrisy remains. A female Kannada actor who endorses or plays a role in an open relationship faces trolling and character assassination. When a leading lady plays a wife who suggests an "open marriage" to save her sanity, the comment sections are flooded with misogynistic slurs. But when a male hero plays the same role, he is celebrated as "progressive."
For decades, the quintessential Kannada hero—from the majestic Rajkumar to the powerhouse Dr. Vishnuvardhan, and into the era of the Darshan and Sudeep—has been defined by a specific code of romance. The formula was nearly sacred: the unshakable hero, the virtuous heroine, and a love story built on sacrifice, jealousy, and ultimate monogamy. The climax was always a hug (rarely a kiss) and the silent promise of a family.
But the sands of the Sandalwood industry are shifting. As Kannada cinema (colloquially known as Sandalwood) undergoes a renaissance driven by OTT platforms and a younger, globe-trotting audience, the seventh-century concept of "Eke Patni Vrata" (devotion to one wife) is being challenged. Today, we are witnessing a bold, often controversial exploration of open relationships and non-linear romantic storylines in films starring major Kannada actors.
This article dives deep into how Sandalwood is navigating this tricky terrain, separating the actor's personal life from their professional art, and analyzing why the "open relationship" trope is no longer just a taboo but a narrative necessity.
