Why Everybody Loves Rajkummar Rao (And What He Actually Loves?)

He is the king of relatability, the prince charming of indie whos swept mainstream Indian cinema off its feet. But it wasnt always like this. Rajkummar Rao spills the beans

- Priya Pathiyan

“I was just there shooting for Made in China and talking to everyone. Of course, I had to pose for selfies, but I don’t mind it. If I don’t talk to real people, I can’t play their characters,” says Rajkummar Rao. He was trading selfies for the perfect Ahmedabadi accent.

Observing people’s body language and accents and making them his own was something he did even as a child growing up in Gurgaon (now Gurugram). The freedom he had in those years allowed him to open up and meet all kinds of people. “A typical north Indian small-town boy, I would be out with my friends all day, returning home at about 11 pm. I would study only during the exams but still get good marks. We would dance, sing, watch films and re-enact those scenes together. We would talk about films, we’d talk about our dreams.”

Even as he soared free as a kite, he found support in his mother’s trust. “My mother was also my best friend,” he says. Rao's mother passed away in 2016. “I would share everything with her—[be it about] friends, girlfriends or school. In fact, whatever was happening in my life. She never questioned anything. The only thing she would ask when I came home was whether I had eaten.” She was instrumental in convincing him to add the extra ‘m’ in his fi rst name and use ‘Rao’ instead of ‘Yadav’ because she believed in numerology. “I’m so glad I led that life because it helps my performance now. I was friends with everyone from various castes and communities and got access to a variety of characters, which now helps because I’ve seen life across all classes.”