‘Ajith is easily one of the most wonderful people we have in our business,’ says Good Bad Ugly co-star Rahul Dev: ‘Used to make idlis, upma for 70-80 people’
In an interview with SCREEN, actor Rahul Dev opened up about his experience of working with Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar and being typecast in the Hindi film industry.
Actor Rahul Dev entered the entertainment industry in the year 2000. He played the antagonist in his debut film Champion, a role that led to him being typecast as a villain. In an interview with SCREEN, Dev reflected on not receiving his big break in Bollywood. He also shared his experience working with Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar in Good Bad Ugly and Vedalam.
Talking about his early years in the industry, Dev said, “I didn’t really have dreams. All I wanted was work. I don’t come from a film family. I am a random Delhi guy. I have many a times felt that I haven’t found the footing or my break. Unfortunately, it’s a mainstream commercial world. In the sense that if you look at real life, no two people would be fighting in the street with their shirts off.”
When asked how he navigated being cast in similar negative roles, the actor reflected, “If you can be successful in a certain kind of role, especially at the time I came in, there were very clear stereotypical images cut out for actors. There is no harm in playing negative roles, but only doing them was an issue surely.”
He added, “There was a typecast because my first negative role was successful. All that I was getting was negative roles. It was difficult to navigate and say no. It can leave you empty creatively. It’s the industry that typecasts you, not the audience, because the people haven’t seen you in any other role.”
Rahul Dev’s negative roles in Bollywood were soon followed by similar portrayals in South Indian cinema, most notably in Simhadri, Mass, Billa, Aathi, and the Ajith-starrers Vedalam and Good Bad Ugly. Talking about collaborating with Ajith Kumar in two films, Dev said, “It was amazing to collaborate with Ajith ji again. We have worked on a very memorable film earlier, Vedalam. He is easily one of the most wonderful people we have in our business, not just in Tamil, but pan India. He is very helpful,” he said.
The actor also recalled an example of his kindness and shared, “Once, there was a visitor on the set. The couple had lost their son. He met them at a time when they were at ther lowest. So, he is very giving. He is a very affectionate and warm man. He is made out of real fabric.”
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It wasn’t just the Tamil actor’s humility that won over Rahul Dev—it was also his impressive cooking skills. “I remember shooting the climax scene with him amidst Durga Puja in Calcutta. We were shooting nights – 7 pm to 5 am. After a whole night’s work, he would then cook upma, idlis, and many other dishes every day. Not just for me, for the whole unit – around 70-80 people. When I am saying he would cook, he would be at the helm of things, and not just supervising. He used to chop the onions and do everything on his own,” he said.
“When we met for the first time, he asked me what I would like from home and I said anything. The next day, he came to the vanity with so many tiffins and gave me two of those large boxes. It wasn’t just a polite meeting between two people just because you are working together. He is very hospitable,” the actor concluded.
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
