Ramandeep Yadav reveals why he did not do extensive research for his role in 'Raakh'
Mumbai, June 27
Actor Ramandeep Yadav revealed why he did not do extensive research for his role as the serial killer Rajjo in the recently released web series 'Raakh', co-starring Sonali Bendre and Ali Fazal.
Speaking exclusively to IANS, Ramandeep shared that 'Raakh' is not a biographical drama. He added that although the show is inspired by a few real-life events, his character Rajjo is fictional.
He further stated that the real individuals involved in the infamous 1978 Ranga-Billa case do not even deserve a biopic.
Ramandeep was asked, "Since the character is inspired by real-life events, you mentioned that you avoided extensive research. How did that decision shape your performance?"
Explaining the reason, he told IANS, "I didn't do detailed research because we were not making a biographical project. The story is inspired by certain events, but Rajjo is a fictional character. I also don't think the real individual involved deserves a biopic."
"The writers and directors had already created a complete world for Rajjo. He had his own history, emotions, and motivations. I felt it was better to stay within the framework of the script rather than get influenced by real-life details," he went on to add.
Revealing the biggest emotional and psychological challenge while portraying Rajjo, Ramandeep said that it was understanding the mindset of the character.
"I had to figure out where he was coming from, what drove him, and how he justified his actions. As a person, I am completely different from Rajjo. When I first read the script, I was deeply disturbed and even emotional because of how brutally the story was written. But as an actor, I had to find reasons behind his actions."
He added that they conducted extensive workshops where they explored the instincts, survival mentality, and emotional background of Rajjo.
"We created a detailed backstory to make the character more believable. All of this helped me perform the role with conviction", he concluded.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm conflicted about this. On one hand, I get that it's fictional, but the Ranga-Billa case was a big part of Indian criminal history. Those guys were monsters, no doubt. But I feel like not doing research might miss some nuance. Still, Ramandeep seems very passionate about his craft, and that's good to see. Let's see how the show turns out! 🤔
Honest opinion: good that he's not glorifying those criminals by doing a biopic. The 1978 case was horrific and those people don't deserve any attention. Making a fictional story from that inspiration is the right move. But I hope the show doesn't sensationalize violence for entertainment. Indian web series need to be more responsible!
Smart approach by Ramandeep. Getting too deep into real-life research could have messed up his performance. As he said, the writers created a world already - actors should trust that. Also, I respect that he found the character disturbing. That's the sign of a good performance coming up! Raakh has a good cast with Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre too. Weekend binge sorted! 🍿
I appreciate the honesty but I think some research would have helped make the character more authentic. Even if it's fiction, inspiration from real events means you owe it to the victims to handle it sensitively. But Ramandeep seems like a sincere actor, so maybe his performance will speak for itself. Let's see if Raakh lives up to the hype!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.