‘I DON’T RELY ON FILMS TO RUN MY HOUSE’

Actor Gajraj Rao shares that he doesn’t need to compromise on his dignity while taking up acting projects

For Gajraj Rao, acting is his love, but it’s not something that his life totally depends on. The actor, whose career was in a way reinvigorated last year after a very successful outing with Badhaai Ho, says, “I don’t depend on some director and producer to offer me work. I don’t think ki mera ghar chalega usse. Luckily, that’s not the scenario for me.”

And the reason why Gajraj doesn’t need to rely on just films is because of his ad film production house. “So, navigation is slightly easier that way,” he adds.

Badhaai Ho may have been the biggest hit of his career till date, but the actor has delivered several noteworthy performances over the years, all of which have been very different from one another.

“It is very easy to get into the grind. After Black Friday (2007), there were goon roles. After Talvar (2015), I got only corrupt cop roles. You have to control that. Somehow, I had the sensibility to not go for each part that came my way. And that’s why Badhaai Ho happened. It took 25 years, but it was worth the wait,” he says with a smile.

The actor’s road to success was not without any struggle but he says he was clear about one thing right from the start — he would not compromise on his dignity when opting for roles.

“Even when I was in Delhi, doing theatre, I was sure that I am not going to sit outside [any] producers’ office for hours and audition rooms where I will be competing with 200 people. I had seen that misery and poor condition of actors who used to come from Mumbai and [had] heard their stories. I was clear that I want to do good parts with dignity. Dignity was [and is] very important for me,” he signs off.

Even when I was in Delhi, doing theatre, I was sure that I am not going to sit outside [any] producers’ office for hours and audition rooms where I will be competing with 200 people. GAJRAJ RAO ACTOR

PHOTO: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/HT