The photo was shared on Instagram. (Etiquette: Rajkumar Rao,
Mumbai :
Rajkumar Rao has been in films for 14 years and the actor says he is hungry for challenging roles like his upcoming film “Shrikanth”, in which he plays blind businessman Srikanth Bolla.
An actor who made his debut in the film industry in the 2010s Love sex and cheatingIt has carved a niche for itself with genre films like this Shahid, Trapped, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Newton, Stree and Monica, Oh My DarlingAmong many others.
in Srikanth, Rao essays the role of the titular industrialist who pursues his dreams despite his vision impairment and eventually founds Bolant Industries. Directed by Tusshar Hiranandani, the film will hit the screens on May 10.
“I don’t really plan. Any character, film I’m doing at the moment, that’s my dream role. I’m just focused on that character and that story. I’m sure there’s more to come. .
“Like, two-three years ago I didn’t know I could do ‘Srikanth’, but it happened. (Today) I have more hunger as an actor, and more fire. There will be a way. More challenging characters (are coming) to me. On the way,” the National Award winner told PTI in an interview.
Asked whether he wants to do an action film or a potboiler film, Rao said, “I have no such desire.”
“But if someone offers me a film that has a great story attached to it and someone sensible is making it, I don’t mind,” he added.
The 39-year-old actor, who has been part of critically-acclaimed biographical projects. Shahid, Omerta and Bose: Dead/AliveHe said he felt an “obligation” towards the real-life character he plays on screen.
“In biopics, you’re playing a real-life character. Some people know that character, if not all. So, there’s always that comparison. If you hit it right, you get a lot of love because people will be like, ‘Wow, he really did it.’ The same person has been recreated for us on screen’.
“But if we hit it wrong, there’s a big problem. It’s not a responsibility, but the person whose life you’re portraying has some duty because he’s surrounded by people who’ve known him for a long time. So, there’s. Kind of a duty,” he said.
Rao was Hiranandani’s first choice to play the lead role in “Shrikanth” and the actor said that he was initially a little nervous to play the role.
“I love challenges. And, what scares me excites me even more. And ‘Srikanth’ did that with me. I have never played a blind person before. I didn’t know if I could do it.
“But that’s the fun where you push yourself out of your comfort zone. It took a lot of research. Whenever I get an opportunity like this, I fully appreciate it,” said Rao.
The Gurugram-born actor said he was not aware of Bola’s life story until Hiranandani approached him for the film.
“But when I came to know about his story, I was inspired… I thought it would be an inspiring story. The way Tusshar had written it, I knew it would not be a sad film. It would be a film that would make you feel Will make you laugh, cry a little but also tell you about an important and amazing journey of this great man Srikanth,” he said.
Rao recalled his first meeting with Bola and described the technology entrepreneur as “full of life”.
“He is smart, confident, cute and loves to talk… I was totally blown away because he is so confident about everything in life. Sometimes I would ask him (director Hiranandani) ‘Are you sure he is blind because he is blind?’ .if he’s more normal than us’,” he said.
Alia F, Jyothika and Sharad Kelkar have also joined the cast of “Shrikanth”. The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishna Kumar and Nidhi Parmar Hiranandani.
