“I believe in giving 200 per cent to each role”
Nonika Singh

Rajkummar Rao has come a long way since his debut in Love Sex aur Dhokha. The National Award-winning actor of critically acclaimed films like Kai Po Che and Shahid hopes to wow once again with his latest film CityLights

Some call him an actor in the Irrfan Khan mould. Others compare him to Aamir Khan. However, no amount of lavish praise goes to Rajkummar Rao's head. Rather the actor, who picked up the prestigious National Award for his mind blowing performance in hard-hitting Shahid, has his feet firmly on the ground. True to his guy next-door image in films like Kai Po Che and Queen, he sounds and behaves every inch like an actor with no starry tantrums in tow.

His responses to most queries are measured sans euphemism and exaggeration of any sorts. And no spicy tidbits ensue even when he is quizzed on romancing his real life girlfriend Patralekha in his latest film CityLights. He says matter of fact, "Trust me whether I am romancing Patralekha or Sonam, it’s just the same as on the sets, we are just characters." Of course, his affair de amour with characters is intense and unfailing.

As he puts it, "I give 200 per cent to each character of mine." That’s precisely why the release of CityLights, his first film after winning the national honour doesn't make him nervous. Actually the weight of National Award doesn't weigh heavy on his shoulders. It neither bogs him down nor catapults him on to cloud nine. He says, "I am the same person and the only thing that has changed is the National Award winning tag that now comes with my name."

With his name now also comes an expectation of a different kind of film. A look at his acting graph starting with films like Love Sex aur Dhokha and you ca’'t help but applaud the actor who has effortlesely slipped into parts as varied as chalk and cheese.

Seriously in a formula-driven industry that thrives on stereotyping actors... how does he ensure such a vast range? "Simply by reading scripts and taking on only those that excite the actor in me," he replies.

On the same metre, he believed that his part of a shallow cad in Kangana-dominated Queen had great potential too, never mind that some critics thought otherwise. So how does this critics’ darling react to criticism? "Positively as it helps me stay on terra firma," is the unassuming answer.

Actually, the only struggle he is facing right now is how best to hone his craft. Coming from theatre background and armed with a FTII degree means the base set up by theatre training found a perfect nurturing ground in his alma mater.

From Gurgaon to Pune to Mumbai, his journey might have hit a roadblock in initial years but now it’s in an overdrive with many a project like Hamari Adhuri Kahani on the anvil. As he is all set for Arbaaz Khan’s Dolly Ki Doli starring Sonam Kapoor, he dispels the notion that this will be his first out and out commercial film.

He reasons, "All my films were commercial in the sense that they made money and were critically acclaimed too. I hate the artificial categorisation. The only divide is between good and bad films."

His involvement with his characters is so complete that often he prevails over directors to change their antecedents. He reasons, "After all I am going to live with the part for many months. So if I feel that a UP background is more in sync with the character I am playing, I manage to convince the makers."

Among the multitude of characters, he has played expectedly Shahid is the closest to his heart and one he identifies with. Kai Po Che wherein he truly bonded with his co-stars Amit Sadh and Sushant Singh Rajput is special too. Though he may not call it a defining moment but the stupendous success of the film did ensure that he became a known face.

One day he aspires to make himself known in international waters. Till then, he basks in adulation closer home without letting it wash over. But then with idols such as Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis whom he hails as the ultimate actor, Rao has set his bar very high.

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