Just before ‘Bose Alive/Dead’ aired, I met the talented Rajkummar Rao himself. This man doesn’t need any introduction. Stardom and acting don’t really go hand in hand and a talented actor may not be a household name, but a great actor is definitely one who can stun viewers with his impeccable acting skills every time he appears on the screen. And Rao is one of those actors who came, saw and conquered the silver screen like no one else.
Donning a white shirt and black trousers, the man was in high-spirits, excited about his latest web-series. And of course, he couldn’t contain his happiness for all the praise he has been receiving for his film ‘Newton’. I have seen ‘Newton’ myself and it leaves a lasting impression on your mind.
The film is sort of political commentary, perfectly depicting the political scenario in India without the unnecessary ‘thriller’ element that we are used to watching. Rajkummar is so impressive that you can’t help but be invested in his story. We could say the same with his web series ‘Bose Dead/Alive’.
Rao has a predilection for roles that challenge him as an actor. He looks for scripts that give him an opportunity to do something that he hasn’t done yet. This is one of his qualities that make you admire his work even more. His roles are not larger than life. They are ordinary and that’s what makes it extraordinary.
We sat down to chat about ‘Newton’ and its success, his latest web series ‘Bose Dead/Alive’, cinema, acting and how he chooses the roles he plays.
Won the best actor award at the most prestigious #APSA2017 (Asia Pacific Screen Awards). Thank you Maa. Thank u team #Newton. Don’t stop chasing your dreams because they really do come true.
What are the deciding factors when you choose a project?
Rajkummar Rao: The content and what’s my character. I look at the factor that as an actor what do I have to do.
What’s the lasting impression in your mind now that you have played Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose?
Rajkummar Rao: I have always been a big fan of Netaji and after doing Bose Dead/Alive, I am a bigger fan now. He has always inspired us with the kind of things he has done, with the vision he had for our country, the helpless love he had. I now know him with much more detail, so there isn’t a particular moment. Playing him was a great feeling.
What efforts went into portraying Netaji’s character?
Rajkummar Rao: A lot went into playing this role. For me to look like him I had to gain some 12 kgs and I shaved my head half to get that physicality right. Then to get an internal view of him, I had to do a lot of reading. I read a lot, watched videos available and documentary. Also, had to learn a new language but our script was very well made. So there was a lot of material that was already there in the script.
Let’s talk about your relationship with Hansal Mehta, how does he manage to bring such versatile characters every time?
Rajkummar Rao: (Laughs) I don’t know how does he do that but I am very fortunate that I have him in my life. He always throws these amazing challenges at me as an actor and I just love it. I totally love taking those challenges. Working with him is such a delight. Of course, it’s more like working with your family and we share a great rapport and comfort level with each other.
#BoseDead/Alive New trailer. Part 2. @patralekhaa @hansalmehta @ektaravikapoor @filmybastardpulkit
When you act in a film, you become that character. So, is there any process that you follow?
Rajkummar Rao: Every character has its own challenges, so you follow a different process for every character. Every role requires a different research. For example, research required for Bose was very different than the research I did for Bareilly Ki Barfi. I also feel my training at film institute and my work at the theatre has really helped me for doing what I am doing.
One thing that you want people to take back from your films?
Rajkummar Rao: They should believe in whatever we are doing. They shouldn’t question and say ‘aise thodi na hota hai’. They should see the sincerity and honesty in my performance, that’s something I always try.
When your own personal cinema aesthetic is higher than the films you are acting in, what do you do?
Rajkummar Rao: I don’t like compromising when it comes to my work. Of course, I will work with people who share the same vision for that script. And there will be times when you will have arguments and disagreements, so eventually, I will have to listen to my director and do what he/she wants. But I always put across my points.
What exactly made you challenge the conventional idea of a hero that B-town has made?
Rajkummar Rao: I didn’t plan it this way. Honestly, I didn’t come here to break any rule or convention. I just came here to work and be an actor, so that’s what I am doing. And I always listen to my heart and always listen to my guts and that’s how I chose a script. As I told you earlier I look for content and see what am I doing as an actor. Most of the time it connects with the audience and they like what I am doing. And I am sure there might have been times when they didn’t connect, but that’s ok you have to learn your lesson and move on.
How are you feeling about Newton been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars and its success?
Rajkummar Rao: I am very proud of Newton. I am very glad that it is India’s official entry at the Oscars because a lot of hard work went into making it. The circumstances that we were shooting it were not easy but we were just very passionate to tell that story. I can tell myself, I was being very sincere when I was playing it. Newton stands for sincerity, that’s what the film stood for. I think that’s what the jury saw in the film and that’s the reason it is India’s official entry.
What should people expect from Bose?
Rajkummar Rao: We all know about Bose, of course. But we don’t know much about details about his life. You might know about INA and plane crash but with Bose Dead/Alive we are going much into detail about his personal life that starts from childhood and goes on to 1945 and further actually. We talk about the whole mystery about whether he was alive or not. So we are touching around all those aspects. There are a lot of things that people will see that they haven’t heard of.