Bad vibes that felt good: Raashul

Pink actor Raashul Tandon, a native of Lucknow, loved the vibes he got after playing a baddie in his last film. “I feel blessed to have got such a wonderful response. The bad part was girls stopped talking to me. I was shocked to see the sudden change in people. But, as old timers say, ‘Agar role ke liye gaali pade to samjho sahi track pe ho…’,” he tells HT City on his visit to his hometown.

The biggest surprise was that his childhood friend stopped responding to him. “My friend stopped replying to my messages. Then, after a few days she received my call just to call me an “ass@##%”. I had to explain to her that I was just playing my character which she obviously understood. But I feel lucky to have worked with such a wonderful team that had 11 National award winners,” says Raashul, who visited HT House on Thrusday.

Raashul credits his banker father and mother for having faith in him. “After my B.Com (from National PG College) when I expressed my desire to take up acting, I expected some fireworks. I was prepared for some drama. But my mom gave me a go ahead and father asked me how much money I would need. They filled me with positivity and let me go to Mumbai to pursue my dreams.”

After a basic acting course, he bagged Yash Raj Telefilm’s serial Seven. “It was like a paid tuition for me that too at Yashji (Chopra) production house. I did shows like Humari Saas Leela, Pavitra Rishta and Baal Veer. Thanks to my TV production houses, they let me do films Mad About Dance and Heropanti.”

He shot for MAD in 2010 in the UK but Heropanti was released before that and became his first movie, playing an NRI in this Tiger Shroff blockbuster. He has also worked in Barkha and Not So Pink. “This one (Not So Pink) is the other side of the movie Pink where males are shown as vulnerable to the harassment from women. It’s a very interesting debate between male and female perspective towards gender equality. It will release later this year,” he says.

Raajul’s next release is Poster Boys that hit screens next month. “The film is with Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Shreyas Talpade. I play a TV reporter who is powerful but corrupt. It’s a very interesting role where I got some insight about how the media functions.”

The actor feels lucky to be in the phase where actors are making waves without any godfathers. “I have no film background and have just learnt basic acting. Fortunately, we have such a big and good industry where everyone can create one’s own space. One just needs to have faith and blessings of parents and God. With 5.3 inch height and coming from Lucknow, when I have my own space then I believe that anyone can. Success of Nawazuddin (Siddiqui) sir and many others have proved that with talent and luck anyone can make a mark,” he says.

Back home for a break, he says, “This is probably the longest break I have had in all these years. I feel blessed to be from Lucknow for the values and positivity I have got from here. I wish we carry forward the good work of last government and make a film industry here so that more people shoot here and more talent comes forward.”

With 5.3 inch height and coming from Lucknow, when I have my own space then I believe that anyone can... RAASHUL TANDON, ACTOR

PIC: DHEERAJ DHAWAN/HT