Page 63 - AUG2018E

entertainment

ajkummarRao’s story in changing audience tastes that have Singh Tomar, more than a decade since
cinema sounds like the lives compelled the mainstream to accept he began to act in films.
of Hindi cinema’s greatest talented filmmakers with fresh ideas That Rajkummar Rao has found sub-
icons. Rao has grown up in and innovative casting. Acting takes stantial roles today is because films that
R Gurgaon in a middle-class precedence in the current landscape feel different and tell a good story, tend
family, trained himself in dance and as poorly performing actors have little to do well. Rao has often stated that for
martial arts before being selected for room for survival, even if they bring in him, the length of a role and its scope
the coveted acting course at FTII, Pune. star value. Rao’s recent release, Fanney in a film rarely matters; it’s the qual-
Graduating with top honours, his strug- Khan, serves for a good example. While ity of the story that makes him choose
gle began when he started to audition both Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao a film. He has said no to hero roles in
for bit parts and made rounds of film have been praised for decent perfor- mediocre films. He prefers to play a key
studios and offices of casting directors mances in an incoherent, poorly made character or second lead in a promising
after that. For the first year, a 10,000 film, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been film with a solid script. Rao’s choices-
rupee pay cheque was rewarding and unanimously panned. Her perfor- Shahid, Omerta, Newton- reflect that
meals were often shared. But as he mance has been criticised as has been quiet confidence that he stands ahead
often says, “I was persistent. I called her visible inability to grow as an actor. of the game as an actor. In his desperate
Atul Mongia, who was casting for Love, Being a star alone doesn’t matter much performance in Trapped, a film riding
Sex Aur Dhokha to try me out for a when an audience can choose from entirely on his acting, Rao has proven
bigger role. “ global content on streaming giants, or his versatility and command over his
His continuous phone calls paid craft. It’s his ability to be malleable that
off. An audition later, Rao landed his Rao’s achievement sets him ahead of his contemporaries.
first film; and immediately rose to the In Newton, where he plays a committed
attention of filmmakers that mattered. goes beyond that honest election officer, Rao delivered
Here was an actor that could become such a convincing performance that a
a character and raise it as a screen of being a character film meant for the festival circuit went
person. actor. Today, he is on to make money in theatres. Film-
But Rao’s achievement goes beyond makers that are keen to explore facets
that of being a character actor. Today, the leading man in of storytelling beyond the conventional
he is the leading man in mainstream mainstream films go to him first; he leads the new wave
films. His looks don’t sync with the of Hindi cinema without much compe-
image of a Hindi film hero till date. Yet, though his looks tition. When Shah Rukh Khan heaped
for films that hold promise, he happens don’t sync with the praise on Rajkummar Rao at the open-
to be playing the pivotal part of a lead- ing ceremony of IFFI Goa 2017, he stated
ing man. His forthcoming film, Stree, image of a Hindi film that he is the finest today; from Khan
a first of its kind horror comedy, casts hero that’s rich praise for it indicates that the
him with Shraddha Kapoor. A funny movers and shakers of Hindi cinema
and promising trailer, Stree has gotten have come to recognise the value and
audience interest right from its first switch to engaging and quality regional immense potential of this young actor.
looks. Rao will also be starring in Ek films. Actors that audiences root for and While doing a round of interviews
Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga, alongside connect with are crucial to make films recently, Rao has expressed keen inter-
Sonam Kapoor and Anil Kapoor. Slated succeed. est in working on an action film soon.
to release next February, it’s a romantic In the past, talented actors like He wants to put his training in martial
drama with an extended cast of Juhi Manoj Bajpai and Irrfan Khan have had arts to use in a good, convincing story.
Chawla and Regina Cassandra. Next to struggle for long years before they So far, at 33, he has a National Film
year also sees him star opposite Kan- have found validation. They found just Award to his credit. With him eyeing
gana Ranaut, reuniting the actors from enough work to pay their bills in expen- a typical action entertainer, his confi-
Queen, in the dramedy Mental HaiKya. sive Mumbai and kept plodding to find dence in his abilities to be a movie icon
Rao also appears in Love Sonia, Tabrez roles that did justice to their merit. In shine through yet again. As he displays
Noorani’s hard-hitting film on sex their cases too, filmmakers with fresh his prowess over comedy, drama and
trafficking that is currently the toast thinking gave them their visible roles. different emotions with each film, one
of the festival circuit. In brief, Rajkum- Ram Gopal Verma established Bajpai’s can hope for many more memorable
mar Rao seems to be everywhere, in a prowess as a brilliant actor with Satya; roles from this talented actor who has
good way. and in pivotal roles in Maqbool and successfully dented the star system of
Rao’s exponential growth in Hindi New York, Irrfan Khan hit the main- Hindi films.
cinema is largely due to his phenom- stream thanks to Vishal Bharadwaj and
enal talent. But it is also a result of Kabir Khan. He hit bullseye with Paan letters@tehelka.com

tehelka / 31 august 2018 63 www.tehelka.com