Rajkumar Rao, The Dark Horse Racing Ahead

Rajkummar Rao blasts the double standards and hypocrisy that sabotages honest work. Rahul Gangwani catches up with the dark horse who’s racing ahead.

- Rahul Gangwani

Rajkummar Rao has just moved into a swanky new apartment in an upmarket society. From a small-town boy who cycled his way to college to speeding in an Audi… his is quite a success story. In just five years, Rajkummar has inched his way up on the slippery showbiz ladder to become a household name. He’s not only a darling of the critics, he’s a hit with the masses too. Love Sex Aur Dhoka (LSD), Gangs of Wasseypur (GOW), Talaash, Kai Po Che!, Shahid, Queen, CityLights and now Aligarh, his filmography is commendable. No wonder his shelves are lined up with awards.

His honesty and levelheadedness remains untouched by the wave of success. But there’s some change for sure. For instance, his command over English has become stronger. “In my hometown Gurgaon, English was just a subject in school. You learn the answers, write them out in the exam and pass. English was an unfamiliar territory when I shifted to Mumbai. I used to be so conscious while giving interviews for LSD. I worked hard towards attaining fluency over it.” He reflects further, “I wasn’t concerned about my appearance. About what I wore or how I looked. I didn’t have money for anything. I couldn’t do any PR. In retrospect, I should have done some PR, some photoshoots, front-page interviews and marketed myself well. Maybe, things would have been different. Now I’m aware and wiser. I know the frills matters.”