Raashii Khanna: I didn’t view Bollywood as a destination

Raashii Khanna

When we get on a call with Raashii Khanna, who is promoting her upcoming show Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, our conversation begins on an unusual subject - luck versus hard work. In 2022, the actor has three marquee projects. She kicks off the year with the crime thriller that marks Ajay Devgn's OTT debut, before moving on to Raj-DK's series headlined by Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi. She will round off the year with Sidharth Malhotra and Disha Patani's Yodha. So what's the secret that is propelling her in the right direction - luck or hard work? "It is luck," she says, without skipping a beat. "Now, I often hear people say, ‘Arre, yeh kahan se kahan pahuch gayi.' I am working hard but that's not just it. I have so many actor friends who are trying to get roles, but opportunities aren't coming their way. Personally, I am hard on myself. I want to utilise every day to the fullest so that when I look back, I have the assurance that I gave it my best."

The actor began her chapter in showbiz with Madras Cafe in 2013. In the nine years since, Khanna has not featured in another Hindi film, instead making her presence felt in the south movie industry. "I didn't get the kind of roles I wanted to do in Bollywood. In the south also, it wasn't a smooth sail initially. There was an entire year when I did nothing. I didn't want to sign up for films that wouldn't do anything for me. I have always been a secure actor, and I didn't view Bollywood as a destination. I decided that I will do Bollywood only when the role is that good."

Ajay Devgn in Rudra

The Disney+ Hotstar series, which is an official adaptation of the British crime drama Luther, delivered on that count. Khanna reprises the role essayed by Ruth Wilson in the original, a sociopath helping Devgn's cop character to understand the crimes. "I didn't want to watch Luther. I wanted to create the character of Aaliyah all by myself, without taking any inspiration from the original. I play a sociopath, and most crime films we watch are based on psychopaths. There's a world of difference between the two. Sociopaths have emotions. I watched Hannibal [2001] and read psychology books to create the character. I auditioned alongside over 200 people. This is a role that doesn't need a pretty face to fill a space, doesn't need a star. After so many years, someone said, ‘Chalo act karke dikhao.'"

What does she hope to achieve with this show? She takes a pause before saying, "I don't want to be known for my face and my body. I want to be a solid actor whose versatility should be remembered. An actor is defined by what their audience thinks of them. I want to be known for holding people's attention in good parts."

She credits leading man Devgn for being a pillar of strength. "Before I started the show, I was told he doesn't talk much. We needed to vibe, given the chemistry between our characters on paper. There is a war of belief systems between Aaliyah and Rudra. I remember when I walked in on day one, he was so warm and kind. We spoke about our lines and how they should be done. We all relied on Ajay sir a lot."