‘I have been gambling for the longest time in the industry, and I have not been lucky so far’

Tejal Sinha
Remember Hitler, who we used to get irked off when we used to watch Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii, and how he used to ‘torture’ the orphan boys. Now the same actor is all set with his remarkable performance yet again, as he plays the character of the revered Indian leader and advocate of nonviolent resistance, Mahatma Gandhi, in the upcoming film Veer Savarkar.
Patience, perseverance, positivity, and self-belief are what actor Rajesh Khera believes have gotten him so far in his journey. Certainly, yes, because that is also very much seen in his filmography, be it in films, television, or web series. Well, as the Satyamev Jayate actor connects with the media for the promotions of the film, The Pioneer got the chance to connect with him exclusively, and he enthusiastically begins, “My profession tests us actors every single day and in every single project. It’s been 30 years. There has been a lot of learning. This profession helps one value life, time, and money. The journey so far has been very consuming, testing, and trying. Basically, it is not easy. I am hoping and praying for some magic to happen. I am like a bomb ready to explode.”
Of course, we are sure he is all set to explode with the upcoming film. For all the obvious reasons, the Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii actor knew he was going to get on board for the Randeep Hooda directorial. Beginning with, “The challenge to play Gandhi Ji. To attempt something new or out of the box, to test myself as an actor along with director Randeep Hooda’s passion and dedication, and to be part of a historical film on India’s independence, playing the most important character who participated in the freedom struggle.”
The film, he says, is about Savarkar Ji, who is not known to most of us, especially the youth. He believed in an ideology totally opposite to the ideology of Gandhi Ji. Although these roles were fantastically portrayed, we wondered whether he was typecast, and surprisingly, he believed it too. “I have attempted, with all sincerity and honesty, to play the character. Playing Gandhi Ji has been the most challenging. I believe that to play, portray, or perform a real character is very tricky, though not difficult. In fact, it is kind of a litmus test. One wrong move, and you will fall. But then you live only once. I have consciously shied away from television because I wanted to graduate to films, and now OTT too. I have been gambling for the longest time in the hope that soon my time will come. Sadly, I have not been very lucky so far. But I have not lost hope. I pray that the magic will happen soon.” Going ahead, the actor was all praises for director Randeep, and he says, “He has held my hand throughout. If my portrayal of Gandhi Ji is appreciated, I will give him a lot of credit. I consider myself lucky to have had this opportunity. I am glad that after a very long time, I was pushed to perform better and get out of my comfort zone.”
Just as we spoke to the actor, the official promo video, titled The Clash Of Ideologies, unveils a pivotal moment in the film, showcasing the riveting clash between Mahatma Gandhi’s advocacy of non-violent resistance and Veer Savarkar’s belief in armed revolutions as the catalyst for India’s liberation. As the promo unfolds, Gandhi, played by Khera, stands firm in his conviction, asserting that the path to ‘Ram Rajya’ lies in non-violent means, inspiring audiences with his message of hope and resilience. In contrast, Veer Savarkar, portrayed with conviction by Randeep Hooda, champions armed revolutions as the key to India’s freedom. His character presents a compelling argument, emphasising the necessity of defeating oppression through decisive action. Portraying Mahatma Gandhi was no less than an immense honour and a deeply enriching experience for Rajesh Khera. This film, he says, not only explores the ideological clashes of India’s freedom struggle but also underscores the timeless relevance of Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence! For him to do justice to his performance as Gandhi, the Thackeray actor goes on to reveal that Randeep had asked him to eat less and fast just the way Gandhi used to. And if not, “Then I will be cheating myself as an actor and will not be able to be true to my portrayal. So I did the same. I lost almost 7 kg under expert supervision. Besides, I watched and studied Mr. Ben Kingsley perform Gandhi Ji in Sir Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi many times. I also watched and studied video footage on Gandhi Ji available on YouTube.”
Being the untrained actor that he was earlier, to him, television has been a school of acting and learning his craft. As we head towards the end of the interview, he signs off, saying, “An actor is an actor. Be it on television or in films, an actor should not be labelled. I believe that I am a very versatile actor. I also firmly believe that I have a ‘style quotient’ too. It’s a matter of time now. Soon, I will be offered the opportunity to showcase the above.”