Srikanth actor Rajkummar Rao: ‘My art is too spiritual…I love it immensely to corrupt it’

At the trailer launch of Srikanth, actor Rajkummar Rao shared that his art is very spiritual to him, and he cannot corrupt it come what may.

3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Apr 9, 2024 10:59 PM IST

Rajkummar Rao on his craft (Photo: Rajkummar Rao / Instagram)

On Tuesday, actor Rajkummar Rao released the trailer of his latest film Srikanth in Mumbai. Srikanth, which features Rao in the titular role, is a biopic based on the visually impaired industrialist Srikanth Bolla and showcases his struggles and triumphs along with his vivacious spirit. At the trailer launch of the movie, the actor revealed if he is doing what he intended to do as an actor when he started out in 2010.

Talking about the same, Rajkummar told Indianexpress.com, “When I started in 2010 with Love Sex Aur Dhokha by Dibaker Banerjee, the idea was to push myself as an actor and do a variety of roles. I didn’t want to put myself in a bracket. I wanted to do everything and not think that I would not be able to do this. I want to push myself as an actor with every film. Of course, you do films like Stree and Bareilly Ki Barfi which are light-hearted, but whenever I get a chance to do films like Srikanth, Shahid, Newton, and Trapped, I love it. As an actor, drama will always be my favourite genre, but I also like to entertain and engage people. That’s the door I see cinema as.”

Also Read: Srikanth trailer: Rajkummar Rao plays visually challenged industrialist Srikanth Bolla in inspirational biopic. Watch

At the event, Rajkummar Rao also opened up about his role in Srikanth. He said, “As an actor, I look forward to playing a character that is as challenging as it can get. This film is not about Srikanth being visually impaired, so we don’t focus on that. I spent a lot of time with Srikanth and asked some very personal questions. As an actor, it is now my job on how much I borrow from him and how much I bring him into my life. It is an aspirational story, and I wanted to portray reality on screen.”

He even shared if there were any shortcuts he took to prepare for the role in Srikanth. “My art is too spiritual and meditative for me. I love it immensely to corrupt it with any kind of cheat codes.”

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A post shared by RajKummar Rao (@rajkummar_rao)

Also Read | Hansal Mehta’s Shahid reminds us of real-life heroism in the age of exaggerated larger-than-life heroes

Rajkummar Rao lastly drew parallels between his own journey and that of Srikanth Bolla. He said, ‘We both come from humble backgrounds and didn’t have too many means throughout our journey. I could relate to his journey. I wanted to be a film actor one day and had no other plan in my life. I kept working the hardest till it happened.’

Srikanth also stars Alaya F and Jyothika in important roles. Directed by Tushar Hiranandani and produced by Bhushan Kumar, the film releases in theatres on May 10.

Nawaz Javed Kochra

Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector. Experience & Career Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media: The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments. Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media. Expertise & Focus Areas Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include: Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles. OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres. Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends. Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community. Authoritativeness & Trust With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More

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