Open to kissing scenes and even nudity, if they are not added to titillate: Raunaq Kamdar

Raunaq Kamdar’s shooting round the clock and across mediums for the past few months, but he’s not complaining. The architect-turned-theatre artiste and actor says he’s “happy” when he’s “busy”. The only criteria for signing up projects for Raunaq – they should have “unique storytelling and interesting characters, screen time doesn’t really matter,” he says. In a candid chat, Raunaq opens up about why he doesn’t mind doing ‘bold scenes’ and hatke roles on screen, his wedding plans, among other things.


Until recently, you were mostly seen playing suave urban, millennials in Gujarati films. Now, you are doing a period film, you’ve played a SoBo guy who comes out of the closet in an OTT show. Are you trying to break free from the stereotype image you had?

The best part of being an actor is that we have the liberty to play different kinds of roles. I firmly believe my craft will only improve as and when I pick up newer, more challenging roles. It is only when I explore something different, something I haven’t tried before, that my canvas as an actor will expand. There's no point in playing it safe, because after some point, the chances of getting stereotyped will get higher. In fact, I am really looking forward to essaying a full-fledged negative character – a man who’s pure evil, nothing grey about him, nothing to redeem him. He should be a proper villain. I have played characters with grey shades in the past as well, so playing a baddie will be a challenge.


As someone who’s primarily done only Gujarati films and web series, you have taken the Hindi OTT route recently. Does that mean we will see you doing more Hindi OTT shows from now on?

I am happy that doing regional films no longer limits an actor’s reach. I am grateful that my work in Gujarati films hasn’t gone entirely unnoticed. Else, how would an actor, sitting in Ahmedabad, land an important role in a Hindi show?


You played the role of a man who opens up about his sexual orientation in your last outing. Did you prepare in any way for the role?

Since my CEPT days, I have met and known members from the LGBTQIA+ community, so I didn’t have to prepare for this particular role. The challenge was to play the character of the millennial professional who’s discovered he’s gay and is also happily married to a woman, in a sensitive manner, without offending anyone.

You are also among the few actors in Gujarati films who has done intimate scenes.

I believe we actors can’t afford to be inhibited in front of the camera. To go with the character and story's flow are the natural steps for us. So if a story demands a love-making scene, a certain amount of nudity, kissing -- I will not shy away from it. My only condition is that such a scene should be filmed in a way that makes it look natural and should not be incorporated just to titillate and grab more eyeballs.


For the last six months and counting, you have been shooting round the clock, from what we hear. Any plans on taking a break from work, taking it easy?

I’d love to take a break, but it seems like a luxury just now. Currently I am working on three films – one that revolves around adoption as a concept, one which is a lavishly mounted war film and the third is a family entertainer. I have been literally living on the sets, shooting back-to-back. Netri (Sheth, my fiancée) and I are looking forward to enjoying a 15-day holiday with our friends in Turkey. I think I deserve it after all the hard work!

And do we hear wedding bells ringing in the near future?

Honestly, there are no plans for that right now. Netri and I have been together for quite some time now and marriage is definitely the next step for us, but we are so occupied with work that there's hardly any time to think about that currently. We will get married when the time is right.