Rajkummar Rao has played intense roles right from the beginning of his career, from Shahid to the yet-to-release Omerta. While the actor did get a few breaks with some movies like Bareilly Ki Barfi, the balance definitely tilts in the favour of characters that can take a toll on an actor’s psyche. His next two projects include Bose: Dead/Alive, and Omerta. While one is a web series on the life of Subhash Chandra Bose the other is the story of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, British terrorist of Pakistani descent, who was arrested and served time in prison for the plotting of murder of journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.
Rajkummar admits that such intense characters and roles do affect an actor. He says, “Of course, certain roles do take a toll on me, mentally, especially when it’s a film like Omerta or Trapped. Once you are done, as an actor, you also know that you have to move on to your next film. But while you are in the process (of shooting for it), it does affect you a lot.”
DEALING WITH IT
Most actors eventually figure out their individual ways of dealing with this part of the job. There have been incidents where actors have sought professional help to overcome the long-lasting effects of a role. However, Rajkummar hasn’t had to go down that road. “Touchwood, I haven’t had to do that for any of the characters. Also, I am consciously aware of my surroundings. I try to go on a vacation and take away the physical aspects of the part and move on to the next one, that’s the process for me.”
THE PROCESS
The trouble often stems from the process that an actor uses to get under the skin of his character. While some choose to be spontaneous, others choose to eat, drink, and live like the person they are going to essay. So, which road does Rajkummar take? “There’s no rule or formula to approach a character. Whatever helps you, you can take that route. But I feel that as an actor, if there are certain physical demands, then you should certainly try and achieve them. It totally depends on that character. For a film like Omerta, Trapped or Shahid, it’s a different process.
You really have to understand the psyche of the character and internally you really have to get that character. When you do films like Bareilly Ki Barfi or Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, these are light-hearted films and the mental pressure is not that much, which you face otherwise in other films. It would depend on the film that you are doing at that point in time.”
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 "Rajkummar Rao")
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