Actor and dancer Raghav Juyal might have been known as the funny boy on TV, but he’s broken out of the image to project a villainous character in Kill. The action-packed film, bankrolled by Karan Johar, and also starring Lakshya, has been playing in filled cinema halls. In a recent exclusive chat with IndiaToday.in, Raghav spoke about the ‘nepotism debate’ and how he never let his outsider tag pull him down.
Recently, the dancer-actor had posted a video urging people to support Kill, given it features two outsiders. He stated that people often accuse filmmakers of only casting star kids and start trends like Boycott Bollywood: “Hence, this is the time they should all come out and watch our film. Karan Johar has backed two newcomers, so it’s important that the public also backs it. Kill has been working solely on word-of-mouth, and that’s a big achievement for both Lakshya and me. The director of John Wick wants to remake it. Our film is also seeing numbers even when a mammoth project like Kalki is also in theatres. I truly feel blessed about everything that’s happening with our film, and with us.”
When asked if throughout his journey, he ever felt the pinch of being an outsider, Raghav replied, “Honestly, all this noise has started recently. I am the biggest example of an outsider making their way into the industry through sheer hard work. I come from Dehradun, with no connection to the industry. I am not even signed by an agency and function completely solo. I can’t be going into the complaining mode or else I would be stuck there. One has to get up and work. People do fail, look at sportspeople, and how they strike back after defeats and injuries. I want to live my life like that, hit goals after goals, even when I fall down. I truly believe that talent will find its way.”
Calling Lakshya his ‘brother’, Raghav Juyal went on to state how it was ‘crazy’ to work together. Raghav added that given they are of the same age, and have similar journeys, they became thick friends: “Even now, almost three years since we shot the film, we are friends. We hang out together almost every day and have the same circle. We have similar beliefs, and have gone through similar struggles, so the connection was instant,” he added.
Given the similarities, we asked Raghav Juyal if he ever felt that he too could have played the lead. Sharing that there was no comparisons or competition between them, the actor replied, “I don’t think Heath Ledger would have ever felt why he is playing the Joker and not Batman. I am just happy that this role, this film opened doors for me as an actor. Also, filmmaking is not a craft of competition. It’s not a race that one runs to win. It’s more about coming together and helping to lift the scene, and the film up. It’s a collaborative process, the rules are very different here.”
Kill is currently playing in cinemas.
Source Agencies
