‘It’s totally your choice if you want to get corrupted and let things go to your head’
It won’t be wrong if 2017 and 2018 are called breakthrough years for him. After all, Rajkummar Rao got critical acclaim as well as tasted box office success with films such as Bareilly Ki Barfi, Newton, Omerta (all in 2017) and Stree (2018). But the actor says he still remains the same person and is thankful that success, as they say, hasn’t corrupted him.
“I feel it totally depends on you, because nobody can force anything on you. It’s totally your choice if you want to get corrupted and let things go to your head. Otherwise, you can lead quite a simple life. At least, that’s what I personally believe in. I love being on a film set. So, when I’m shooting and playing a character, that’s the most exciting time for me. It gives me a kick when I portray a character, do a scene and see some magic happening on the sets ke, ‘wow, I didn’t expect this. Yeh kaise ho gaya'." he says.
Interestingly, Rajkummar reveals that the impersonation of Shah Rukh Khan in the climax scene of Stree “was never planned”. “It just came to my mind, and as actors, that’s what we look for ki kuch magic ho jaaye. I, for one, just look for that magic in all my characters. Apart from that, it’s all business that other people can take care of. I will keep doing my thing,” he says.
Although Rajkummar is “very happy” with the successful 2017-2018, the actor’s focus still remains on his growth as an actor. “I think that’s how you should grow every year, and with every film. Honestly, I won’t be happy in a scenario wherein my films become box-office hits, but I don’t grow as an actor personally. In that case, there is no fun for me in it.
I get a kick when I get to grow with every film that also goes on to do well. That’s like an added bonanza for me,” he says.
At the same time, he also credits his success trajectory to the kind of cinema that’s being made right now. “That hows the growth of our ema. Personally, I am very py with the way our ema is shaping up ause it’s not like we ven’t had good quality f ms in the past. After , there have been masterpieces by makers ch as Guru Dutt and B mal Roy. But in b ween there was a h when we sort of fell ugh. I think we are in the t of great times again, erein we can tell exciting stories because there is an audience for every kind of film,” he says.
Honestly, I won’t be happy in a scenario wherein my films become box-office hits, but I don’t grow as an actor personally. In that case, there is no fun for me in it. I get a kick when I get to grow with every film. RAJKUMMAR RAO, ACTOR