‘I HAVE A LIFE BEYOND FILMS’

Rakjummar Rao says that he does not believe in getting stuck in the trappings of being a star

From starting out as a newcomer in Dibakar Banerjee’s Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010) to winning a National Award for Shahid (2012), Rajkummar Rao has come a long way. However, the actor says that although he enjoys acting and being in front of a camera, films are just another part of his life. “I am a very non-filmi guy. I just work in films. So when I am not on set, I like to do my own thing. I am very involved when I am working, but when I am not, I switch off completely. I travel, catch up with friends and watch a lot of stuff on the Internet and television. I am constantly looking for new shows to watch, so on my days off, I am holed up at home, glued to my laptop. I have a life beyond films and absolutely enjoy every aspect of it,” he says.

His last release, Trapped, earned Rajkummar a lot of accolades for his performance. Has the quality of work being offered to him changed, especially after the National Award win? “I think the number of scripts being offered to me has definitely changed. Now, I get to choose my scripts. But, if I know that a film-maker is making a film on a subject that interests me, I don’t mind approaching them. I don’t have an ego”, the actor says.

Rajkummar’s filmography boasts of roles that are completely different from one another. The actor admits that he tries to choose parts that push him out of his comfort zone. “I want to do different things. I am always exploring and looking for an interesting part to play. There is no point in doing the same thing over and over again. That doesn’t mentally stimulate me,” the CityLights (2014) actor says.

I am a very non-filmi guy. I just work in films. So when I am not on set, I like to do my own thing. RAKJUMMAR RAO, ACTOR