Rahul Bhat reacts to criticism that Black Warrant glamourised Charles Sobhraj: ‘I don’t think it was anything like that’

Have things changed for him after he played the lead role in Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy, which was lauded at the Cannes Film Festival last year? He replies, “I would like to think that. Definitely yes, the response has been tremendous, particularly now after Black Warrant. With Kennedy, I had worked really hard and the Cannes reception was humbling, but when it came to MAMI an Kolkata for a festival, the audience reaction was amazing.”

The actor adds, “I knew something good is happening. But with Black Warrant, I am able to taste what success actually means. It gives me a boost of energy. Now I feel that I have to push this envelope further.”

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Ask him if there is less acknowledgement of such content among the Indian audiences, and he says, “It is true. But, I feel that cinema is cinema at the end of the day. If A story is told well, it will find it’s audience. The audience might not be as large as a commercial film might get. If we give them something good, who are we to judge what the audience wants or doesn’t want. That’s why it’s said that, ‘If a man makes a film and says that I am making a film, it will never be a hit.’ You have to make things from your heart.”

Rahul Bhat has mostly featured in character-driven projects, including Ugly, Section 375, and Fitoor, among others. Ask if there is a desire to explore massy cinema and he replies, “Of course, why not? And, I think I will kill it, I will be good at it. Mujhe bhi high speed shots dedo meri entry mai. Having said that, I don’t believe that any cinema is massy, art film or anything else. A film is a film. What is the definition of massy in today’s world? All massy films are not even working these days.”

Talking about Black Warrant, a section of people alleged that the criminals Charles Sobhraj and Billa-Ranga were glamourised in the show. When asked to comment on the same, Rahul said, “I don’t think it was anything like that. I don’t know, actually. These are the questions that has to be put up in front of the makers. We, as actors, just come, do our part and go. We are not creators of this world.”

Ask what he is working on currently, and shares, “I generally do very less work, but now I have realised that it’s the time for me to step up. I am reading a few scripts. I am open to both OTT and theatrical releases. I want to give the audience what they need and I also want to do what I want to do. Sabse commercial film bhi aaye aur art wali bhi.”