I grew up on film sets, they’ve always felt like home to me: Vinay Rajkumar

The third-generation actor from the Dr Rajkumar clan, Vinay Rajkumar, was just four years old when he faced the camera for the first time for Anuragada Alegalu in 1993. In the same decade, he went on to play roles in six films as a child artiste, including Shivarajkumar’s cult classic Om and Dr Rajkumar’s Aakasmika. He made his debut as a lead actor in 2015 with a college caper, Siddhartha. Growing up on the sets of films, quite literally, Vinay shares, “I would often go straight from school to film sets to watch my uncles or father or grandpa shoot. The set always felt like home,” he says. Excerpts from the chat:
‘I’VE TAKEN A LOT OF BREAKS BETWEEN PROJECTS’
Vinay has completed nine years in the industry, but he has only had four releases so far. “I have taken a lot of breaks in between projects. Besides, I don’t really have a number in my head, I am fine with taking it slow. I want to be known as a versatile actor, as someone who doesn’t get stereotyped or play the same kind of roles in every other film,” he says. The actor is looking forward to four more releases this year. Three films — Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe, Pepe and Andondittu Kaala — are ready for release. He is presently shooting for the last leg of the rural thriller Graamayana . “These films are completely different from my last four films. I don’t want to repeat myself and risk being typecast. I would rather take up films that help me perform and better my craft,” he says.
‘THE NEPOTISM DEBATE IS ENDLESS’ “Sometimes, when I am walking on the street and if a person approaches me for a selfie, I go ‘huh’ for a second, and then reality hits me. It has been a pleasure and is an honour to be his (Dr Rajkumar’s) grandson and there is no other way to put it. People have showered our family with love and love only! But, the nepotism debate is endless. Yes, we do have an edge because we come from a filmi family. That is the truth and there is no denying it. However, we are also pursuing our passion here, like everyone else. It is a bad thing only if someone is consciously stopping others from entering the industry,” he says.
‘THE INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED, BUT DEDICATION IS THE SAME’ “Back in the day, we would shoot with reel cameras and before saying ‘lights, camera, action’, the director would say ‘silence’ and in a second there would be pin-drop silence on the sets. This would give me goosebumps. Actors and technicians carried so much dedication, discipline and passion. Shots were planned so meticulously. Today, the digital cameras have given us the flexibility to make changes even during the scene, but the dedication, discipline and passion have remained the same,” he says.
‘I ALWAYS KISSED GRANDPA BEFORE GOING TO BED’
Remembering Dr Rajkumar, he says: “I always kissed my grandpa before going to bed. I remember one night after kissing him, he told me to sit down and narrated a drama and asked me to chant shlokas with him. I don’t remember the name of the drama, but the moment, feeling and emotions are still fresh in my mind.”
‘PUNEETH CHIKAPPA WAS A CONSTANT SUPPORT’
Remembering his uncle, Puneeth Rajkumar, Vinay said, “I could always count on Appu chikappa He was this constant support, and you knew he was there for you no matter what. My taste in movies, food, and clothes are influenced by him. Most of my life has been defined by him. Recently I was out, and I was trying to buy gifts for everyone back home, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how Appu chikappa always brought us gifts every time when returning from out-ofthe-country shoots. Not once did he come home emptyhanded. He is the one person in the family we always look up to! He was more of a friend than an uncle.”