I am thoroughly enjoying my journey as an actor: Rajkummar Rao

Rajkummar Rao Tells Subhash K Jha How He Gets Ready For His Biggest Challenge In The Role Of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Your next role as Subhas Chandra Bose is arguably your most challenging to date. tell me about your preparation to play Bose?

Playing Netaji on screen is one of the most fascinating experiences for me. It’s not an easy task to portray him on screen. There was a lot of preparation involved. Starting from reading a lot about him through his auto biography and some other available books, watching lot of documentaries and visiting his house in Kolkata, learning a new language. Gaining 12 kgs of weight, going half bald to try and look as close to him as possible but more than the look I tried to catch his passion, his unconditional love for his mother land and his drive and vision. For me it’s the emotional journey which is more important than the physical appearance.

How much more difficult  is to portray real life characters like Shahid and Bose as compared with the  fictional blokes  in Bareilly and Trapped?

There is a different approach when you play a real-life character. There is so much information already available to start from and you have real-life references to build the character and also I feel a sense of responsibility towards people who have known them and love them when I play a part like Shahid or Netaji on screen .

So is playing fictional characters easier?

In a way, yes.When you play a fictional character, you can mould it the way you want. You can take any approach and put your own elements in that part but it’s equally challenging to portray both fictional and non fictional roles as long as you are sincerely trying.

Actors like you, Nawazuddin and Irrfan have re-defined the parameters  of stardom. Do you feel you have made enough headway as an actor?

I don’t really think about that. I am thoroughly enjoying my journey as an actor and I just want to focus on doing exciting work. It’s a really big entertainment  industry and there is a space for everyone.