Post 'Badhaai Ho!', I'm getting good roles, says Gajraj Rao

Gajraj Rao has been in film industry for over two decades, but actor says it was 2018 film “Badhaai Ho!” that gave him a chance to score some good roles.

Rao made his acting debut in 1994 with Shekhar Kapur’s “Bandit Queen”, and went on to play supporting parts in films "Dil Se", "Aks", "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi", "Black Friday", "Talvar" and "Rangoon", among ors.

Playing a middle-d man grappling with unexpected parenthood in “Badhaai Ho” - opposite Neena Gupta, turned out to be 49-year-old actor’s career defining project.

Comparing his journey in movies with midfielder in a football team, who provides reliable support to goal scoring forwards, actor said 2018 film got him long-due mass recognition.

"In a match of football, re are few of m who score goal like (Lionel) Messi, (David) Beckham, (Diego) Maradona and or players supporting team. All I can say is before 'Badhaai Ho', I didn't get chance to score goal and after this film I got chance to score goal.

“I believe I was getting love from audience but (after 'Badhaai Ho') I was ticed more," actor told PTI in an interview.

A atre actor and a successful ad filmmaker, Rao said he has always been careful with his movie choices and increase in number of offers has t brought any change in process.

"I have always been conscious while choosing my roles. I always think a lot before choosing my next project, script and makers are important factors for me." Rao, whose latest release is Kunal Kemmu-led “Lootcase”, said after boarding a project he tries to imply his real-life observations while creating character and rely on writing.

"Whoever I meet in real life, I observe ir mannerisms, way y talk and think. I do a marri of se observations with my characters. And it makes my job easy as an actor.

"On script level, re are a lot of things that are crafted and defined. Like in "Badhaai Ho" and "Lootcase" my character is very nicely crafted and it makes things easy for an actor." actor added that for his role of a shrewd politician in latest comedy-drama, directed by debutant Rajesh Krishnan, he drew references from one of his relatives.

Lauded for his pitch perfect comic timing in back-to-back films like "Badhaai Ho", "Made in China" and "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan", Rao said he is too new to be scared of getting pigeonholed.

"To get stereotyped one needs 15 to 20 years of time. I have just done two films (in this ). This question should be asked after ten years to me. Let me do this w." "I am enjoying whatever work is coming my way. It is important to get work. I consider myself blessed that I am receiving good offers," he said.

Also featuring Ranvir Shorey, Vijay Raaz, Rasika Dugal, comedy-drama premieres on Disney+Hotstar last week.

Im credit: Instagram/@gajrajrao