actor: Gajraj Rao
Born in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, Gajraj Rao’s family shifted to Delhi when he was five. He spent most of his life in several railway colonies within the capital, which the actor credits for helping him play his parts.
Gajraj Rao, PariWar
Gajraj Rao’s Pariwar is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. (Photo: Disney+ Hotstar/Instagram)
Gajraj Rao credits his bourgeoisie upbringing for uplifting a number of his most celebrated roles, but the actor says despite having an upscale bank of observations he never feels too self assured.
Starting out with minor roles in acclaimed films like Bandit Queen, Dil Se, Black Friday, Rao gained popularity with The Viral Fever’s series Tech Conversations with Dad in 2018.
The actor got widespread acclaim with the National Award-winning Badhaai Ho! which released an equivalent year, playing the center aged man Jeetendra Kaushik grappling with unexpected parenthood.
Gajraj Rao said a habit that has stayed with him since his stage play days is feeling nervous before a performance.
“I never get overconfident with my work. Even during theatre, i might remember all my lines but just before the show, I’d attend the washroom, wipe my sweat. Even today, i buy anxiety each day before the shoot about how things would unfold,” he told PTI in an interview.
Gajraj Rao said he has worked with co-actors who are so confident that they aren’t suffering from “anything at all”, except for him a day on set is “like an exam”.
“My script is filled with notes, it’s more precious than my life when I’m working. I desire i’m close to step during a jungle and therefore the script is my map,” Rao added.
Born in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, the actor’s family shifted to Delhi when he was five. He spent most of his life in several railway colonies within the capital, which the actor credits for helping him play his parts.
His Shankar Tripathi from this year’s Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan was modelled on two-three differing types of “extremely stubborn” people he saw growing up.
For Badhaai Ho!, Gajraj Rao drew inspiration from a travelling ticket examiner in his railway colony, who was as adjusting as his character.
“Growing up during a bourgeoisie environment helps any actor. you’ve got ready samples within the library of your memory. All those references come to you, random instances from your life. I observe tons . i’m into people watching.
“My fascination for observing people was there even before I had thought of becoming an actor. i’m lucky that this ability is there and it’s still alive.”
The actor currently stars in Disney+ Hotstar’s latest comedy-drama PariWar.
Produced by Arre Studio and directed by Sagar Bellary, the six-part series features an ensemble cast of Rao, Ranvir Shorey, Abhishek Banerjee, Yashpal Sharma, Vijay Razz, Nidhi Singh, Sadiya Siddiqui and Anurita Jha.
Gajraj Rao, who has featured in several web series, including Bang Baaja Baaraat and Tripling, said his activate digital medium has been “life altering.”
“When I collaborated with TVF, it changed my perception of content. it had been a tremendous learning. i used to be lucky that I got connected with the medium at the proper time, when things were taking a turn.
“I didn’t have this condition that I’ll only do films. i used to be watching the medium and knew things would change and it might become more democratic.”
Rao said one among the main reasons for him to require up PariWar was Bellary, best known for guiding the acclaimed film Bheja Fry, and therefore the show’s crackling script.
PariWar revolves around Gajraj Rao’s Kashiram Narayan and his attempts to stay his dysfunctional family together.
Though the actor now gets to headline shows, he doesn’t linger over his initial struggling phase where he only featured in minor roles in films.
Gajraj Rao insists he was never “dejected” as he recognised that getting any opportunity within the movie industry was ultimately a blessing.
“Because of my lower middle upbringing, i assumed everything i used to be getting was in surplus. I never dreamt this stuff would happen to me. So once they did start happening, everything was in plus.
“I didn’t have any right to complain. There are thousands of super talented actors who didn’t even get the tiny roles that I did and are still not getting. So why should I complain?” he added.
