Rajkummar Rao steps into uncharted territory with Maalik, marking his debut as a full-fledged action star. Known for his versatility, the actor now dives headfirst into the gritty, high-octane world of action cinema.
The fierce, ferocious Maalik avatar is new territory for you. Did you enjoy being an action star?
Absolutely, Maalik is my first full-fledged action film and I’ve loved every bit of stepping into this genre. It’s intense, it’s physical, and it’s very different from anything I’ve done before. Playing Maalik was liberating, it allowed me to tap into a raw, wild side that I hadn’t explored on screen yet.
How much of the bruising and battering was real? Any injuries on the set?
We shot in some pretty raw conditions, on the outskirts of Lucknow and Kanpur, so we were working in very real locations instead of controlled sets. There were bruises, sore muscles, but that’s very natural. Our action team, led by Vikram Dahiya, was very professional. Safety was the first priority. When you’re that physically involved, it shows on screen and that’s exactly what we wanted.
How did you zero in on Pulkit and the action genre for this film?
The minute I read the script of Maalik, I was hooked. The character has such a strong arc, it is the story of an underdog, but not in a typical way. It felt gritty, emotional, and cinematic all at once. And Pulkit… he’s absolutely incredible and a dear friend. He’s so clear in his vision but also gives you the space to bring your own instincts to the table.
Do you feel like you’ve tasted blood now? Would you want to return to the action genre?
There’s definitely something addictive about doing an action film, especially when the story is rooted and not just about the stunts. There’s so much you can do within the genre when you have good scripts and characters. But I want to challenge myself and explore all kinds of genres.
Lately you’ve been successful in every genre. Would you say this is your golden phase?
I still get nervous before the release of my films. But yes, I feel really grateful. I’ve been lucky to get roles that are so different from one another, and the audience has been very kind. I’m just trying to stay relevant and keep doing honest work.
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