From a homophobic father in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan to a corrupt politician in Lootcase, Gajraj Rao had enough on his record in 2020. Rao feels calmer and less frustrated after almost 10 months of the pandemic and believes 2020 was indeed a good teacher.
“Even though our family lived a bunker life, they didn’t let hopelessness into our lives,” said Rao. In an open chat with socialmediagossips.com, the actor looked back on the past year, the project that made him happiest and how the true personality of an artist is reflected in his craft.
Here are some excerpts from the conversation:
How do you look back on 2020?
The year started excitingly with Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. Although there were concerns about how socialmediagossips would perceive this issue, it was welcomed. I was looking forward to celebrating his success with my team and the audience. But the pandemic has brought everything to a standstill. When Lootcase was released in July, it brought motivation back. Soon the web became dominant, I was doing roughly 50-60 lives which was a new experience, working from home was new, I was leading some projects too. Now after 10 months I feel reassured and not so frustrated.
Gajraj Rao with Neena Gupta and Jitendra Kumar in a still image by Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan.
Was lockdown a different phase?
We thought it was a passing thing, but the first month was unbearable. It was like living in bunkers during the World War and looking at the same faces every day. We soon realized that it would be a long time. Family support came to the rescue. The goal was to keep harmony at home and not have desolation there. My family’s greatest achievement was that we didn’t get bored and disappointment didn’t become part of our lives.
You have been involved in so many projects in 2020 – Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Lootcase, Masaba Masaba, Pariwar … I’m sure you didn’t miss the spotlight.
All of these projects were shot before 2020. Your publication helped me stay active. The result of Lootcase helped me the most, at least mentally. It created an immensely positive attitude for me and my well-wishers. We really enjoyed recreating this Badhaai Ho scene in Masaba Masaba. At Neena ji there is always something special. We look forward to further joint projects. 2020 was like a rope walk. However, these projects did strike a balance.
Which project has been the most fulfilling last year?
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan because my character from Shankar Tripathi was difficult. Since we were talking about homophobia, we didn’t want it to look preaching. We were very aware of the socialmediagossips judging the movie but wanted them to see it as entertainment and try to understand such a relationship. Our characters from Shankar and Sunaina were nervous. So that was an achievement.
Gajraj Rao star Lootcase has been recognized for its dark comedy.
Any show or movie this year that you wished you could be a part of, and why?
I liked Taj Mahal 89, its quirk and the way it created that time. I would have loved to be a part of it. Then Paatal Lok was like a missed opportunity. I loved Aarya too. I’m so jealous of these shows (laughs).
This year the digital space brought democracy. No blue blood or someone who has made five films is preferred now. The web gave us incredible content that we hadn’t even heard of. Check out Paatal Lok or Scam 1992, nobody thought they would be such big shows. Audiences now appreciate this type of storytelling.
Your acting style has become a point of reference. How do you take it
I did not get such recognition before Badhaai Ho. But this film became a turning point. No actor creates his style. It’s part of his personality. Take Utpal Dutt, for example. I don’t think his speaking or acting style was invented. It just reflected his real understanding of things. I even feel for myself that the literature I have read or the cinema I have seen shows itself in my work. Jeetendra Kaushik (Badhaai Ho) happened to me in 2017-18. It’s not that I’ll continue to do a good job by default. I still have to do my homework for each character.
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How do you see your 2021 on the labor front?
There is an anthology film with Manoj Bajpayee for Netflix and directed by Abhishek Chaubey. Then there is a film produced by Imtiaz Ali. Filming will take place in mid-2021 if all goes well. Even if it doesn’t get better and we still have to go for a rope walk. I am sure we have the experience to handle the situation well. Our hearts will not sink anymore.
