In a heartwarming news that Kannada film industry and huge fan base received, popular actor and producer Dhananjay (known locally by the pen name ‘Daali’) declared that he and wife Dr. Dhanyata are expecting their first child. The announcement arrived at a high-profile media award ceremony, late in January 2026. The Badava Rascal star had also shared the good news with the gathering declaring new life ahead for them. When it came out, the fraternity came in with clapping joy and that was a lovely new moment for the actor.
From Mysore to Parenthood: A Fairy Tale
Dhananjay’s transition into this new stage of life is nearly a year after his grand wedding. The actor married Dr. Dhanyata, a gynaecologist by trade, on February 16, 2025. The wedding was a beautiful event that took place at the Exhibition Grounds in Mysuru, a city of great sentimental significance to both people. They both spent their education and upbringing there. The long-time friendship between the pair became their love, and they have always been fans favorite.
Dhananjay had revealed the world of Dhanyata to her in late 2024, and was able to explain the link they made with similar values and with their background from Middle Karnataka. Remarkably, though, Dhanyata has spent her whole career giving lives to hundreds of families as a doctor, and she is now embarking on this journey by herself and on her own onto the path towards becoming a mother.
Pregnancy and the urge to succeed and father a son. Dhananjay is at the peak of his career and the news of the pregnancy is a perfect surprise. Having launched Daali Pictures prodigy and entrepreneur, he has evolved from actor into producer, regularly assisting production of content-driven films like Tagaru Palya and Head Bush.
2026 is already a stereotypical blockbuster year to inhabit such a role. At the moment of all the projects historical epic Halagali, gritty action series Uttarakaanda and also the critically-anticipated Pushpa 3: The Rampage the plates are full for professional Dhananjay. But professionally, nothing comes close to the success of his new role as a father.
Fans and Industry React
Congratulatory messages immediately started flooding into social media from the day of the news. Afterward, members of the public behind the award event have been sharing videos from The Art of “Thalebaal” or, as he’s often referred to with clips from her party at which their young, bright announcements have been made on Twitter.
Colleagues at Sandalwood, including stars and technicians, had written to the couple asking how a healthy and fun journey of life awaits them. The news is having further cheer since the couple is scheduled to celebrate their first wedding anniversary this February. This new role as a father is at its most deeply welcomed, perhaps for the oldest man ever to rise from a small village in Arasikere to become a “People’s Star.”
