Rajkummar Rao Praises ‘Dear Friend’ Janhvi Kapoor, His Mr And Mrs Mahi Co-Star: ‘Seen Her Growth.’

Rajkummar Rao is on cloud nine. After delivering two back-to-back releases with the films Srikanth and Mr And Mrs Mahi, released last month, the actor has been doing some serious rounds of promotions. In an exclusive chat with Zoom, the actor spilled beans on his latest releases, his co-star Janhvi Kapoor, his love for his craft, and more.

Rajkummar Rao’s Recent Success

If one asked for proof of this, the man of the moment is Rajkummar Rao, who had earlier this month scored with the crowds as Srikanth. Now, the tender, bitter-sweet marital drama Mr & Mrs Mahi is also getting encouraging footfalls. Raj remains unspoiled by this sudden spurt of success.

“In my opinion, the motivating story of Srikanth actually worked well with the audience, and all that hard work we had put in to make this story work—in fact, I had put in guesswork. We love watching true stories on the screen, and what he has achieved in his life makes it so highly inspiring for all,” Rajkummar shared.

Impact of Srikanth’s Success on Mr & Mrs Mahi

Do You Think the Success of Srikanth Is Helping Mr & Mrs Mahi in Getting Footfalls?

“That should certainly help. But every film has its journey. Mr and Mrs Mahi are very close to my heart. It is a very beautiful love story, be it husband-wife or father-son, about dreams, aspirations, success, failures, and egos. There is something for everyone in this film. I strongly feel that we have made a good film and a film about all of us.”

Unique Selling Point of Mr & Mrs Mahi

What According to You Is the USP of Mr & Mrs Mahi?

“We love cricket and cinema in our country, and Mahi has got them both to offer. Like anybody else, I love cricket too because I have been raised in Gurgaon, and cricket has been a very fundamental part of my upbringing. Post-school every day, two hours were reserved for gully cricket, and I was quite a good player. I remember watching the World Cup matches as a little kid with our entire family – those are some of my fondest memories.”

Preparing to Play Cricket on Screen

Did You Need Any Preparation to Look Convincing on Screen While Playing Cricket?

“I can remember some professional cricket training that I had to go through. Gully cricket and professional cricket are different things. I had to go through some sessions to know the technical part of the game, to be around coaches just to observe them, and to understand their style and body language, but for me, my character is going through his internal journey throughout the film. Sharan Sharma is a brilliant director, and he gave me all the freedom to dig into my character, Mahendra. We both built him from scratch.”

Working with Janhvi Kapoor

How Was Your Experience Working with Janhvi Kapoor a Second Time After Roohi?

“Absolute tension. Janhvi is hungry for good parts and an actor ready to push herself each time. We were always there for each other during the course of filming. I’ve seen her growth since her first film, and she is just blossoming with every film. She is a talented girl who is here for the right reasons. Apart from that, she is a dear friend, and it’s always fun to work with friends.”

Preference: Real-Life Characters or Fictional Ones?

Out of Curiosity Raj, What Do You Prefer Playing: Real-Life Characters or Fictional Ones?

“Both have their kind of preparation process, but I enjoy playing both. Whether playing Mr. Mahi or playing Vicky from Stree, I love performing. I am in love with my art form. This has been my only dream since I was a child, and I worked very hard for it, and I’m still working very hard to grow with every film. I’m grateful to have the fortune to live my dream each day. God has been kind to me.”