From reels to real life: Thaj on playing the role you love to hate

Better known as Thajmola on Instagram, digital creatour-turned-actor Thaj built a following through reels before stepping into cinema with a cameo in Youth.

Interestingly, the shift from observation and quiet commentary to becoming a character himself is what drew him in, he shares. “People who approach you for films want you to do the same thing you’re doing on the Internet,” he says, “But when Ken approached me, he was upfront that this character would be nothing like me… I could actually try to act, not just be myself.”

The role itself leaned into that contrast. “Your character is going to be a very annoying character, and people are going to hate you,” he recalls being told. And yet, that arc, especially a final moment that “hopefully, if it works out, it will work out,” sealed the deal.

On set, the scale of filmmaking felt different. “When it comes to a movie, it is truly magic… there are 30 to 40 people working for one shot,” he says. For someone used to smaller setups, it was “humbling and a big learning curve”.

His content, however, remains rooted in observation. “If you look at any fight or romance in real life, people act like characters,” he says. That same lens shaped his performance as he tried to “envision how a bratty person would behave”.

Being around seasoned actors left an impression. He mentions Dhanush, whom he met at the film’s pre-release event, saying, “The way he carried himself and how observant he was felt very interesting.” On set, he kept learning. “My first-ever shot was with Devadarshini ma’am… we did around 20 takes, and every time, she had the tear rolling down her cheek at the exact moment,” he recalls.

For now, he’s keeping future projects under wraps. But with auditions underway, as he puts it, “there is a chance that you might see me soon, hopefully.”

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