There was a time when Tarun could no wrong in Tollywood. He was, as they say, monarch of all he surveyed. After Nuvve Kavali, the world was his oyster. But then a succession of failures and some poor career choices have left Tarun's career at the crossroads.

The son of yesteryear actress Rojaramani, Tarun (a National award winner as a child artiste) now desperately needs a hit. And he hopes that it will be Sakhiya.

Directed by the redoubtable Jayant C, the film features him as a happy-go-lucky guy who meets his match in a girl of exact opposite temperament. As one promo put it, "it is the story of a very happy-go-lucky boy who lives life on his own terms. Then, he meets a girl who is the antithesis of him - very responsible and trustworthy. He falls in love with her and his life is changed totally".

It is a tailor-made film for Tarun to showcase his lover-boy image. He has an author-backed role and is said to have enjoyed every moment of the film.

Paired opposite him is the charming Chandana (Nauheed Cyrus). Playing the female lead, the young actress too has reportedly turned in an attractive performance.

But all eyes are on Tarun. And he knows that. That is why he is said to have given his best for the film, He has taken special efforts to get every nuance right. Mani Sharma's music is one of the high-points of the film.

For Jayanth this is as important a film as is Shankar Dada his other film releasing in the month of October. That is a totally different venture. Sakhia is totally different.

But he will be hoping that both succeed at the box office.