Into the mind of a terrorist

Nonika Singh

National Award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao is in a space to vie and die for. Playing an ominous character in Hansal Mehta’s Omerta, he once again picks up laurels for  portrayal of a dreaded terrorist.

Getting into the mindscape of an antihero wasn’t easy, he says. For reference, he read all he could, besides watching many hate videos. The disturbing space may not have been the easiest to inhabit, and may have unnerved the “fun secular guy” he is in real life. But what is an actor who doesn’t challenge himself. Rao has, however, always been a fan of dark characters; be it the joker of Dark Knight or Sanjay Dutt in Khalnayak or more recently Ranveer Singh’s Khilji act in Padmaavat.

Rao soon found himself becoming Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British terrorist of Pakistani descent. The film may or may not have impressed critics but the verdict on Rao is unanimous: superlative.

Effusive praise such as the one coming his way post-Omerta fills him with gratitude. The actor, who never ceases to amaze, suffers from an occasional actor’s block. Prior to both Omerta and the web series Bose, he was clueless and a tad apprehensive about how to approach these characters.

So what exactly is his method of acting? The FTII graduate certainly does his homework well. He insists, “I am an organic actor, and I believe in living and acting in the moment.” If 2017 was Rao’s year what with Newton and Bareilly ki Barfi hitting the bull’s eye, the current one appears equally promising. He has just finished the shoot of Fanney Khan.

Post-Shahid, he nursed and spoke of Hollywood dreams. But, today between Bollywood and an international project, he senses little difference. A film is a film; just as an award is an award. Bareilly ki Barfi may have been a two-hero film but he walked away with the juiciest part. He has had no qualms about accepting the best supporting actor award for his dual shaded, now-brash, now-diffident part. “Any honour is welcome.”

Landing a National Award (for Shahid) so early in his acting career, too, he insists is no Damocles sword. “I am not bogged down by expectations.” Nor is he disappointed by the fact that Newton, India’s official entry to the Oscars, did not advance in the race. “It was a great film and I am proud to be a part of it.”

This actor with the boy-next-door looks is all set to climb one mountain after another. Peaking with each performance, he straightaway jumps from one high to another. Without a hint of boast or arrogance, the brilliant actor proclaims, “My best is yet to come.”