Rajkummar Rao shares his excitement about massy action film ‘Maalik’; recalls difficulty landing roles before 'Love Sex Aur Dhokha'

Rajkummar Rao has never been afraid to break the mould in Bollywood with his rooted, slice-of-life characters. With the actor now stepping into uncharted territory with Maalik, his first Massy action film, he shared his thoughts on departing from the tried and tested routes.The trailer of the film captured attention, showcasing Rajkummar in a gritty, blood-soaked avatar as a gangster. Talking about Maalik, the actor says he’s excited to present himself in a way audiences have never seen before. “As an actor, that’s what I want—to play different people, explore different genres, and present myself in a new light,” he shares. For him, even comedy isn’t easy, and he sees every genre as a new challenge.With Maalik, he relied solely on the script to shape his character, building him from the inside out. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he shared, “The external is easy, you can grow your hair and beard. But to reach the soul of the character is the real work.”The film’s trailer features a dialogue about not trying to become something you weren’t born to be. For Rajkummar, he admitted that this line hit close to home. Early in his career, he recalled approaching casting directors to audition for lead roles, only to be discouraged. “They would say, ‘Audition for this, teen scene hain toh,’” he remembers. But he kept going, believing someone would give him a chance. That chance came with Dibakar Banerjee’s Love Sex Aur Dhokha, which opened doors, followed by Shahid and Kai Po Che.Thrill of the UnexpectedEven after a diverse career, Rajkummar’s hunger to surprise the audience remains strong. “When you come up with something people don’t expect you to do, that’s thrilling,” he says. With Maalik, he hopes to break perceptions again, reminding people that as an actor, stepping out of one’s comfort zone isn’t just a choice—it’s the real fun.Maalik also stars Manushi Chhillar and Prosenjit Chatterjee and is directed by Pulkit.