As Rahul Avasthi in Anurag Basu’s ensemble film Ludo, he was trying to escape a bunch of goons with a bag full of money. As Rishi in Netflix’s Mismatched, he was trying to woo his ‘future wife’. What actor Rohit Saraf didn’t have to try too hard for, is all the love and appreciation coming his way post these projects. “It is overwhelming because I did not expect to get such an amazing reaction from the audience,” the actor tells us. From minor roles in movies such as Dear Zindagi and Hichki to playing Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ son in The Sky is Pink, to now the lead in a web series, it’s been a roller-coaster journey for the actor who was born in Nepal, brought up in Delhi but now considers himself a full-fledged Mumbaikar. The 24-year-old tells us that he thrives on appreciation because that’s what drives him to give it his all! Excerpts from a conversation:
Amidst all the compliments, is there a special one that stands out for you?
It’s not really one but a unanimous compliment which a lot of people have told me – which is that they are relating to my characters and my performance. And that takes me back to my belief that I have to put a bit of myself into all the characters. This is the reason I wanted to be an actor – so I can impact someone’s life or shift something in someone’s mind.
You are very close to your mother. What is her reaction to all this?
I think my mother has always had a certain confidence and belief in me. It’s almost as if she knew it was going to happen but was just waiting for it. I can finally say that my mom is really happy and proud of me.
When did you first realise that you wanted to be in front of the camera?
I have been told by my mother that when I was four or five years old, my father would say that I would grow up to be an actor and I grew up with the idea. I was around 11 or 12 years old when my father passed away. When I was 15, I accompanied my mother and a friend to his photoshoot and my mother suggested I get one done as well. I sent out those pictures to a few casting directors and within a week, I landed a role in a Channel V show and moved from Delhi to Mumbai. When I went on set for the first time and how I felt being there was the defining moment for my career. There’s been no looking back since.
Your journey in films has been slow and steady. Have there been a lot of ups and downs on your way?
I think my journey is no different from any other aspiring actor. Every actor needs to face their share of ups and downs and so have I. There was a phase when I had no work. Then last year, I was shunting between three projects. Today, if I were to use a word for my journey, I would call it ‘rich’ because it had everything – rejections, acceptance, failures, and successes. I still believe my career is yet to begin. There are many more challenges and rejections to face and I am looking forward to that.
You have worked with some of the best actors in the business, including Alia Bhatt, Rani Mukerji, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and a plethora of talented actors in Ludo. Any learnings from them?
When you work with such experienced actors, you tend to observe and pick up certain things. For me, the belief that I want to put myself in every character comes from when I worked with Alia. She has played such diverse roles but there is always a bit of Alia you see in them and that’s what makes them so believable. Something I love about Priyanka is that while she wants to grow, she also wants the people who she is working with to grow as well. She always looks out for people she is shooting with. Talking about Rani, there is a certain warmth and energy she exudes which is so amazing. And what do I say about Aditya Roy Kapoor? He is so kind and cool and inspiring! I feel every person you work with, including the technicians on the set, have something to offer if you are willing to learn. I just want to be like a sponge and absorb it all!
Mismatched is the first time you were playing a lead. Did you have any doubts or apprehensions about yourself?
Absolutely not. I think Prajakta (Koli) and I really wanted to have fun and that’s what we did. Huge credit goes to the producers and directors of the show. They never made it feel like it was work. And to be fair, it is an ensemble. So, neither Prajakta nor I took that pressure because it felt like a collective team effort.
For a young actor like you, there are so many possibilities and decisions to make. Is that a daunting thought?
While that can get daunting, I don’t let it get to me because I am a very intuitive person. Even if there are thousands of people telling me to do something and I am not convinced, I won’t do it and vice versa. That’s what happened with Dear Zindagi and Hichki. Some people told me not to do these films because my roles were small. But I wanted to be a part of these fabulous stories in whatever capacity I could. Also, I have an amazing team that evaluates every decision I make.
How are you dealing with all-female attention coming your way?
By reciprocating it with love! (smiles) The best part is that they don’t just talk about my looks but they are connecting with me as a person. People pour their hearts out on my DMs. How often does one find themselves in that position? I feel so grateful that without meeting me in person, they have that trust that they can be so open about their feelings with me. I really feel valued and appreciated.
So, no marriage proposals?
Oh god, no man! (laughs) Well, there are some who comment saying ‘hello future husband’. The other day my mother joined me live on Instagram and there were girls commenting stuff like ‘namaste mummyji, main aapke paon chhoo rahi hoon’ (smiles) There are some fun conversations too, with girls tagging their friends on my posts, and telling the other ‘see that’s your jiju’. But I don’t take all that seriously. It’s a lot of fun to read these comments and I find it really cute.
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