THE CHAMELEON

RAGHAV JUYAL ISN'T JUST A TOP DANCER, HE'S TURNING INTO A CONSUMMATE ACTOR AS WELL. HE CHARTS HIS JOURNEY WITH SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY

- SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY

Few can navigate on-screen transformations as seamlessly as Raghav Juyal. Known for his lively dance and goofy hosting, Raghav has shifted towards dramatic roles, immersing himself in complex characters. His roles in Kill, Yudhra and Gyaarah Gyaarah won him plaudits.

Despite battling a fever, Raghav takes the time to discuss his evolving acting career with me. In our exclusive interview, he shares insights into his transition from dancing and hosting to acting, the challenges he faced in embodying his new characters, the atmosphere on the set and his experiences working with renowned directors. Here are some excerpts:

YOU'VE TRANSFORMED FROM A GOOFY HOST ON TELEVISION TO A SUPER VILLAIN IN KILL AND YUDHRA. GYAARAH GYAARAH IS ALSO INTENSE.

I never thought about this. I just remained in the moment and enjoyed what I was doing. When I started dancing or hosting, I enjoyed them from the bottom of my heart. I started training myself as an actor and did a lot of plays and scene works with my teachers and coaches. I thoroughly enjoyed the process. I enjoyed giving auditions and now I'm enjoying films and these unique characters. I'm thankful that there is a casting culture here, otherwise it would have been difficult to get chances.

WAS YOUR SHIFT TO ACTING A CALCULATED MOVE?

No. Art is always spontaneous and unpredictable.

I used to enjoy watching films since childhood. Back at home, in Dehradun, we would be excited to watch something on a single screen. Bunking school and going to watch a film was fun. This was the only thing that made me happy. In fact, I understood my real passion when I started training. Then I saw Gangs Of