By: IANS | Mumbai | Published: October 29, 2018 11:04:17 am
Gajraj Rao was last seen in Badhaai Ho.
For Gajraj Rao, Badhaai Ho is no less than a miracle. The actor who has been in the industry for over two decades, and still pursues other interests for financial security, says acting alone is not a lucrative profession unless one is a superstar.
“Its a miracle, its magic,” says Gajraj, not talking about his Badhaai Ho character impregnating his wife at an age when couples cradle their grandchildren. Gajraj is dumbfounded by the success the film has got him. “The calls, the messages, friends and strangers alike are calling from all over the country and from outside. I never imagined this film would change my life and career. But it has. It is all destiny,” said the actor, who has been around since 1998.
He doesnt see his years of struggle as struggle. “It was not as if acting was my only means of livelihood. I made sure my family didnt have to suffer the consequences of my passion for acting.”
While pursuing his acting career, Gajraj also dabbled in the business of garment export. He also tried his hand at Hindi journalism for a while. And he owns an ad-making agency Code Red Films. All these pursuits serve as financial security for Gajraj and his family.
“I firmly believe acting cannot be a lucrative profession unless you are a superstar. That a major role in Badhaai Ho has come so late in my career can only be called destiny.
“I never expected to get a pivotal role like this. It was Ayushmann Khurrana (who plays Gajrajs son) who recommended me for the role. I cant thank him enough, and the director Amit Sharma and the writers for writing such an interesting role for an actor who has never done a central part before.”
Reminded of the hard-hitting real-life TV crime drama Bhanwar in which he had played a child rapist, Gajraj recalled his beginnings. “It isnt as if Badhaai Ho is the first role Ive been recognised for. Off and on for films like Black Friday, Yahaan and No Smoking, I was noticed and praised.
“My last screen appearance was in Meghna Gulzars Talvar, where I had a brief but interesting role. And my stint in the web series Tech Conversations With Dad for The Viral Fever connected me to the young audience.
“But earlier when I was recognised by someone at the airport or at an event, it was like, Aapko maine kahin dekha hai (Ive seen you somewhere). Then I would launch into my own biodata to tell the person who I am.”
But after Badhaai Ho, he says it is for the first time that he is being called out by his name. “When someone shouted, Gajraj at a public place for the first time, it was music to my ears.” The world of Kaushik, the character that Gajraj plays in Badhaai Ho, is familiar to him.
“My father was in the railways, just like my character in Badhaai Ho. Ive spent all my growing up years in a flat in a railway colony. Doing this film was in many ways a process of reclaiming my past.”
The one trait that Gajraj shares with his character in Badhaai Ho is their love for the wife. “My wife told me to enjoy all this attention for a fortnight and then come down to the earth. It is very important for an artist not to get carried away by attention.”
Badhaai Ho isnt getting everyones love because of one performance or one artist. “Everyone poured their most positive and sincere energy into it. I firmly believe good deeds result in good rewards,” he concluded.
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