33 minutes agoAuthor: Virendra Mishra
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Rajkumar Rao is celebrating his 40th birthday today. This birthday is very special for the actor. The film 'Stree 2' has been a huge success. On the occasion of his birthday, Rajkumar Rao had a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar. The actor told that Stree and his birthday have a very special connection. Stree was released on his birthday on 31 August 2018. And, this year 'Stree 2' made his birthday special in advance. During the conversation, Rajkumar also shared many childhood memories related to his birthday.
After the tremendous success of 'Stree 2', it seems that this birthday is going to be very special?
I am busy preparing for my next film. I think I will celebrate my birthday on the set. I will try to get a day off and come to Mumbai to meet my friends. I am not a birthday person. I am not fond of parties. I like to stay at home with the people I love. I am very happy with the success of Stree 2. The previous Stree was released on 31 August 2018, on my birthday. It seems that Stree and birthday have some special connection.
What kind of birthday memories do you have from your childhood?
I have a lot of childhood memories. I have celebrated a lot of birthdays in my childhood. I grew up in a joint family. We were 14 people living together. We are three siblings. I am the youngest. Mostly my birthday was celebrated at home. Friends were invited. The house was decorated. Cake was cut. I have a lot of such memories. Only on birthdays, we were allowed to wear home clothes instead of uniform to school.
Is there any gift from your parents that you have still preserved?
In childhood, we used to get toys etc. It is not possible to keep them safely even now. But when my mother left this world, I have kept her anklet safely till date. It is always in front of my eyes.
What kind of compliments are you getting from people after the success of Stree 2?
I am getting a lot of love from the entire industry. I am getting calls from many actors and directors. I am getting a lot of love from the audience too. People are sending messages on social media. I get emotional seeing such love from people. I too have grown up in the same streets and mohallas where 80 percent of India lives. I too am a child in the middle of that.
The selection of your stories is also related to the common people?
My stories are selected close to reality. Such characters can be any boy from the neighbourhood. For example, anyone can relate to the character of Vicky in Stree 2. People have seen such characters around them. He is very simple and sweet. He is always in love with a girl. There is always a smile on his face.
Who did you fall in love with and when?
I saw Patralekha for the first time in an advertisement on TV. I fell in love at first sight. I did not know who that girl was. I did not even know her name. The thought came to my mind that she is such a sweet girl. I wish I could marry her.
God listened to me. After one and a half months, we were going to Pune for some work. When we started talking, he told me about the ads he had done. Then I came to know that he was the same person whom I had seen in the ad. I thanked God. He brought us together. It has been 14 years since that connection.
After 'City Lights', did you never get a chance to work together again?
Very soon we are going to work together. We are planning. We are also looking for a story in which we can work together. She is very passionate about her work. She has a hunger for acting. This year she has done 'Wild Wild Punjab' with Varun Sharma and a very beautiful film 'Phule' with Pratik Gandhi. This film was based on the life of Savitribai Phule. She is doing very good work.
What was his reaction after watching 'Stree 2'?
She has seen it 2-3 times. She liked the film very much, she enjoyed it a lot. She laughed a lot after watching the film. But when Sarkata came, she screamed the most. She is always my first audience. Whenever I make a film, I try to show it to her first. Her feedback means a lot to me. She is my most honest critic.
When films do not succeed as expected, do we review ourselves as to why this happened?
Of course I do. There are many reasons for this. Release date is also a big reason. How the film is promoted. Whether the trailer reached people or not. All these things matter. Many films are good, but they do not do well in theatres. Whereas they do well on OTT.
There is a lot of talk about that film there. Then this question comes to mind that why did these people not come to the theatre to watch the film? When I review this, then I understand that they did not even know that such a film is running in the theatre. At least the trailer should reach the people and then they can decide whether to watch the film or not.
Will women come forward as well?
She will definitely come. Stree 3 will definitely come.
What message would you like to give to people like you who want to come into the industry?
I can tell you from my personal experience. When I came to this city, I didn't know anyone. But I came after studying and was fully prepared. I did theatre. After graduation, I went to FTI. I studied acting there for two-and-a-half years. I came to Mumbai in 2008. I was ready to work as an actor – hunger, love for my work, and most of all, I was ready to work hard. I brought these three things with me. I would advise these three things to people. Rest, how many gyms you go to, how many people you are in touch with, these things are of no use. All the people who have come from outside get work only through auditions. These three things are useful. Right now there are many opportunities for people. But you have to come fully prepared.
Who are the people around you? This is also very important. Keep such people around you who motivate you. Who inspire you. How are your friends is also very important. You should stay away from friends who like to party and organize gangs.
What kind of friends did you make when you came into the industry?
We are very good friends. When we sit together, we talk about cinema. We talk about life. We also have fun and joke around, but we don't tell cheap or useless jokes. All our friends are very pure. When we talk, we talk about good performances and good cinema. We discuss ideas with each other about what we can do better.
How do you feel when you look back?
I am feeling good. I came to this city with the thought of doing something good. This was always my plan. I never had a plan B in my life. I am very grateful to God. I am very grateful to my mother's blessings and the audience. I never think about where I came from and where I have reached. I always think of living in the present.
You have a lot of affection towards your mother, she has motivated you a lot. When you told her that you want to make a career in acting, what did she think about cinema?
Mummy herself was a big fan of cinema. Our entire family loves cinema a lot. Every Saturday we used to watch movies by putting VHS cassettes in the VCR. Mummy has been a big fan of Amitabh Bachchan. I started doing theatre. After that I went to FTI to do an acting course. Mummy was always very supportive. She supported me in whatever I did. She always gave us three siblings the freedom to do whatever we want to do in life, but do it honestly and with all our heart.
What kind of attitude do people in the industry have after coming from FTI?
There is a lot of difference between FTI and the world of the industry. FTI is a very lovely campus in itself. It is a planet in itself. Where people live very lovingly and stress-free. They think about cinema 24 hours a day. They make films, watch films, attend their classes. But when they come to Mumbai, they face the reality. It is a very expensive city. No one knows them here.