I can't relate to perfect humans, says Raj B Shetty

Over the years, actor-filmmaker Raj B Shetty has consistently gravitated towards onscreen characters that exist in the grey — shaped by conflict, contradiction and vulnerability. That philosophy finds fresh expression in Rakkasapuradol, directed by Ravi Saranga, where Raj plays an unconventional cop. Ahead of its theatrical release on February 6, Raj speaks to Bangalore Times about his attraction to flawed characters, his belief in script-driven storytelling, and why trusting new voices in Kannada cinema continues to matter to him.

'Flawed heroes make for better cinema'

Backing first-time filmmakers has become a pattern in Raj’s career, though he is candid about the risks involved. “I really like working with debutant directors. It is risky, but I am ready to take that risk and trust them, because Karnataka is in need of new directors. Ravi Saranga, the director of Rakkasapuradol, has the ability to bring about change. I trusted him and the script, and the film has been very rewarding. I always propagate the need for all kinds of cinema for the industry — big-budget films, mid-budget entertainers — we need them all. Rakkasapuradol is an engaging thriller that is neatly written and driven by its script,” he says.

“As an actor, I have my own limitations and strengths. What excited me was the character. I play an unconventional cop who is very flawed and human; he is not the perfect police officer. Perfect can only exist in cinema. This character breaks that idea of perfection and is inspired by real life. I believe I live in a grey zone, which is why I’m drawn to such characters. Every human, at some point, is in a grey zone, fighting their own battle to be good. I cannot relate to perfect human beings,” shares Raj.

There is nothing impressive about such characters — they are often created only to serve the audience. That’s why I choose roles I truly believe in,” he explains. The challenge, Raj says, lies in making stillness speak — allowing the audience to sense the character’s in ner world without overt ex position. “My character has a whole different world inside him, but he does not express much. It may look simple on screen, but it is very hard to play such a role. To make it convincing that my character is actually investigating without doing much was a challenge — and I enjoy that,” he says.

‘LEARNING FROM PEOPLE IS THE REAL REWARD OF CINEMA’

Beyond the role and the script, Raj says Rakkasapuradol offered him a collaborative space. “One thing I love about cinema is meeting new people and learning from them. Ravi was constantly thinking about how to polish and better the film, which was very inspiring. Working with my co-actors — Gowrav Shet ty, Siddanna, Swathishta and Archana Kot tige — was refreshing and gave me a different perspective on the film,” he says.

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