Rajkummar Rao: “2017 Was The  Best Year Of My Life”

How is  your ankle healing  after the fracture recently?

It’s   95 percent healed. I am walking.  I hope to run soon.

Would you say 2017  was  your most exceptional year so far?

2017  was the most exceptional year so far, because of  the number of releases and  the audiences accepted me in most of them. Most of my releases  this  year were boxoffice successes. Just hard work is not enough.Your films have to succeed as well. Then there was  the web series on Subhas Chandra Bose which was streamed and widely viewed, maybe more than any of my big-screen films.So I am very grateful  for that.All these filmmakers who thought  of me for all these parts …So yeah, I think 2017 was an exceptional year for me. I just hope 2018  remains as exciting

Which would you consider the  high points  of 2017?

Many highs during the year. I’d say Bareilly Ki Barfi because my character was appreciated by the masses.No one  thought  I’d be able to do a  character  like Vidrohi and that too in such a hardcore commercial film. Now that people  have seen me  playing such a fun part with so much pleasure they can offer me more lighthearted entertainers. Not that I don’t enjoy playing roles with political ramifications.

Like Newton?

Yes, Newton . I got widespread appreciation in a  solo lead  after a long time.And  the  kind of success Newton saw was immense…The kind of numbers that Newton  did was totally unexpected. I of course knew we  were doing a very special film. The  fact that  it was such a game-changer was  a welcome bonus.

Disappointed that it didn’t make it into the Oscar shortlist?

We made a wonderful film.We are super-proud  of it.We got worldwide appreciation for  it.

Your comments on Padmavati being hurdled  by protests. Do you foresee similar roadblocks for  your film Omerta where  you play terror mastermind Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh?

I am  just waiting to see Padmavati like everyone  else. As for the trouble for Omerta, we will cross the bridge when we come to it. LikeNewton,Omerta has received widespread appreciation all across the world. We are hoping for a quick release in India and very excited about it.

What can we expect from Rajkummar Rao in 2018?

I like surprising and challenging  myself. Yes, I think I’ve an exciting lineup in 2018. There  is Hansal Mehta’s Omerta to begin with , followed by Fanney Khan with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and AnilSir(Kapoor) and  Ek Ladki Ko Dekha with Sonam Kapoor which is produced by Vinod Chopra.So I think there will be  a lot of shooting and  a lot of release. What more could an actor ask for?2017  was the best year  of my life.I hope 2018  gets even better.