From Mandi House in Delhi to the FTII in Pune and finally to Mumbai… Rajkummar Rao had a winding commute to filmdom. The year 2010, found him at the threshold of changing cinema. Rajkummar’s ordinariness gave him extraordinary leverage in playing the hero, who could be both grave and goofy, sinister and simple... The experimental Love Sex Aur Dhokha was juxtaposed with the drama Kai Po Che! The disturbing Shahid was followed by the gender-bender Queen. The angsty CityLights and the nerve-wracking Trapped were balanced by the light-hearted Bareilly Ki Barfi and the black comedy Newton. Finally, the horror comedy Stree slalomed him into the 100-crore club, with Rajkummar walking shoulder to shoulder with mainstream magnets. Coming up is an eclectic palette from him – Anurag Kashyap’s crime comedy Ludo, the Chupke Chupke remake, Dinesh Vijan’s horror comedy Roohi Afzana and The White Tiger adaptation with Priyanka Chopra. But what’s making the biggest noise right now is his upcoming release, Hansal Mehta’s social comedy Chhalaang. The film spotlighting the conflict between sports and studies, could be a wake-up call for a slumbering system…
What’s your state of mind right now?
I’m happy. I’m passionate about what I’m doing. I never had a plan B. Acting is the only thing I wanted to do all my life.
Is this a ‘dream phase’ in your career then?
My dream began in 2010 when my first film, Love Sex Aur Dhoka, released. My only dream was to be a film actor. But I’m living my dream. Yes, I feel good that my films are working. Success means to be able to do what makes you happy and to do that every day.
How does stardom feel?
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Filmfare.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Filmfare.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Life As He Knows Wit..
Rajkummar Rao Turns Aside His Reticence To Chat With Anuradha Choudhary About Life, Relationship And Career Choices
What's the good word?
WORDSMITH VARUN GROVER RECENTLY TURNED DIRECTOR WITH ALL INDIA RANK. HE TAKES SUMAN SHARMA THROUGH THE TRANSITION
POETIC JUSTICE
Lyricist RAJ SHEKHAR came under the glare of limelight thanks to his collaboration on Animal. DEVESH SHARMA talks to the reticent wordsmith
A life less ordinary
Veteran Reena Roy takes you through her life and times in an exclusive chat with Farhana Farook
BRAVE NEW WORLD!
ARBAAZ KHAN IS REVELLING IN HIS NEW INNINGS AS A FILM PRODUCER, FINDS TANZIM PARDIWALLA
Man behind the mask
ACE ACTOR DIBYENDU BHATTACHARYA OPENS UP ABOUT HIS LIFE AND CAREER IN A CHAT WITH DEVESH SHARMA
LEGENDS OF THE fog
BARUN SOBTI WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THE TAUT POLICE PROCEDURAL KOHRRA. TANISHA BHATTACHARYA TALKS TO THE RETICENT ACTOR ABOUT SAVOURING SWEET SUCCESS AND MORE
EXpress Vourself
KUNAL KEMMU IS MAKING HIS DEBUT AS A DIRECTOR WITH MADGAON EXPRESS. SUMAN SHARMA INTERVIEWS THE ACTOR-TURNED DIRECTOR
Lights, Camera, Reflection...
Harleen Sethi chats with Tanisha Bhattacharya about the quirks and perks of being an actor
Future ready
SHILPA SHETTY'S CAREER GRAPH SEEMS TO BE UPWARDLY MOBILE ONCE MORE. TANISHA BHATTACHARYA CAPTURES THE CHANGES