I don’t believe in time, space and attachments: Rakshit Shetty

Sitting outside his quaint home, framed by areca and coconut trees, Rakshit Shetty is deeply engrossed in watching the world go by as he plays with his three dogs — Khaleesi, Snow and Charlie (a nod to his film 777 Charlie). If that sounds like a tribute to Game of Thrones, it absolutely is. The British series remains the actor’s all-time favourite, and Rakshit admits he has revisited it over eight times. “I love the writing and how deeply they’ve explored each character,” he smiles. Another Game of Thrones reference recently sent social media into overdrive. When film maker Hemanth M Rao was asked about Rakshit Shetty, his remark — “He will come back like Drogon in Game of Thrones” — left fans thrilled and brim ming with anticipation. In an exclusive chat with us, the actor shares more:‘TIME IS NOT A CONCEPT THAT I TRULY ABIDE BY’ Rakshit’s inclination towards philosophy, spirituality and the pursuit of truth is not new to his fans. “Time, space and attachment are concepts I don’t believe in,” he says. “I understand how eagerly my well-wishers are awaiting Richard Anthony, and that it may feel like a long wait. But trust me, I don’t feel the passage of time,” he says, describing his days as fluid and immersive. “I spend my time writing, then slip into meditation. When something strikes me, I return and make notes. In that way, I’m constantly improvising and reshaping the script. I’m not someone who counts that it’s been two or three years since I last appeared on screen and feels desperate to be seen again,” he explains. 'ALL MY ATTENTION IS NOW ONLY ON RICHARD ANTHONY'When I made Ulidavaru Kandante, I wrote the script in 12 days. I’ve always said I made that lm in complete innocence — without being burdened by industry tropes of marketing, promotions or brand integrations. A decade later, it’s spoken about as a cult lm and has made it to many favourites list. I may not overly express my feelings, but I’m touched that Ulidavaru Kandante continues to receive applause even today,” he re ects. “The prequel and sequel, that is Richard Anthony, is mounted on a massive scale — something even he hadn’t imagined while making Ulidavaru Kandante. It will be shot across numerous countries, and the logistics are huge. I never get bogged down by expectations, but I do want to ensure that fans of Ulidavaru Kandante feel this lm is paisa vasool. You’ve often heard me say that each lm re ects my inner evolution — Richard Anthony will be a full circle. You will see Richie 2.0,” states Rakshit.'NEITHER I PRESSURE ANYONE NOR I LIKE BEING PRESSURED FOR ANYTHING BY ANYONE'"I'm happiest when I’m left alone — no questions, no explanations demanded. That doesn’t mean I’m not accountable. I’m simply ask ing for the space to enter my own world and live each of those char acters before I bring them to the screen,” he explains, Rakshit shares that this immersive process has significantly shaped his writing. “I know exactly why each character behaves the way they do, because I step into their shoes and feel it. That’s why I’ve chosen not to step out much or while away time on social media.”