National award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao wants to stay away from the comfort zone of playing a certain character on screen. In a recent interview, he said even though his attempt is to play regular, relatable men, he avoids getting “trapped” in a certain image.
“There are times when I try and be conscious that I can't repeat certain gestures and avoid that. I know it might work beautifully for the audience and perhaps even the scene, but I restrain myself. I don't want to get into the rut of doing the same thing, repeatedly. I don't want to be trapped.”
Rao said he prefers to dive deep into brainstorming sessions with his directors. He said the depth of the character decides the amount of time he dedicates to the preparation of any role. However, when it comes to comedy, a forte he has mastered without an ounce of doubt, his process is more “organic”.
“When you do a comedy, it's spontaneous, you can't force it. It's about being there and having fun with your lines. I don't plan anything when it comes to comedies. The trick is to surrender.” On the work front, Rao is set to make a comeback to the horror-comedy universe, with 'Roohi', a film from the 'Stree' franchise. The film features him as a man in love with a woman who is apparently a witch. Rao said he had to work hard to differentiate his character from the previous hit film.
“When producer Dinesh Vijan suggested that we do a horror-comedy, I was thrilled. I knew I had to play these two wild characters unlike anything. At some point, Vicky (Rao’s character in
'Stree') and Bhawra will meet in one film. That was exciting because I’d be playing a double role. I had to play Bhawra remarkably differently than Vicky, from his looks to the way he speaks.”
Helmed by Hardik Mehta, 'Roohi' also stars Jahnvi Kapoor and Varun Sharma. It is slated to be released on March 11.
