RAJKUMMAR RAO MEANS BUSINESS

The ‘Shahid’ actor says that he is in the industry for a marathon, and not a rat race. Hence, in the coming years, people will see more powerful performances

NEW DELHI: He debuted in the Hindi film industry with Love Sex Aur Dhokha and went on to grab the limelight by delivering powerful performances. Geared up to enthrall cinema lovers with more thought-provoking projects, actor Rajkummar Rao says he is here for a marathon and not a rat race.

From performing on the stage at Shri Ram Centre in Delhi to picking up the nuances of acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, the 33-year-old actor started in the industry with no godfather. In a span of eight years, he has cemented his space with his work in films like Kai Po Che!, Shahid, Aligarh, Citylights, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Newton. Rajkummar believes the times are changing for outsiders seeking a break in Bollywood.

“Being an outsider, I know it is not easy for an outsider to (get a break) in the industry; but I think times are changing. Writers in this generation are coming with some wonderful stories. Our directors too are experimenting with their storytelling and that is the reason why actors like me and so many of us are getting great characters to portray on screen,” siad Rajkummar.

“I just hope this journey continues and I keep challenging myself. I just want to push the envelope with every film. I really do not want to find any comfort zone. It is just a very humble beginning. I have just started and it feels like ‘Love Sex Aur Dhoka’ is just released... It has been seven years and there is a long way to go. I am here for a marathon actually, not a rat race,” added the actor on the sidelines of season 2 of Signature Start Up ‘Masterclass’.

He says there was never a Plan B for him.

“This is the only thing I have always thought of doing since my school days. I always wanted to be a film actor. I always chased that dream and I started by doing theatre in Delhi. Then I went to FTII from where I landed in Mumbai in 2008,” said Rajkummar, who says FTII gave him the confidence to face the camera.

“Somewhere, I feel that people take FTII actors seriously because we commit two to three years of our lives to learn acting,” he said. The struggle began when the Gurugram boy landed in Mumbai. “For me, the first two years in Mumbai were a bit tough. As Mumbai is an expensive city, it was not easy for me to cope up with a lot of expenses here. But my family really supported me.”

How does he deal with failure?

“As long as people see my effort, my sincerity and they write good things about me, I am okay with it. Because I cannot really control whether a film works or not. I can only control my sincerity and see that I, as an actor, give 100 per cent to whatever I am doing.

“It does feel bad, but it’s fine. You have to keep doing it and take the chance,” said Rajkummar.