Mumbai: Rajkummar Rao says he is unfazed by the newfound success as the actor aims at setting higher benchmarks in his career.
One
of the most versatile and bankable performers of recent times, the
33-year-old actor feels success could sometimes also be a "trap".
Last
year belonged to Rajkummar as the audience thoroughly enjoyed watching
him in different avatars -- "Trapped", "Newton", "Bareilly Ki Barfi",
"Behen Hogi Teri" and "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana".
"I want to go
higher in my career. This is not my best. My best is yet to come. My
biggest high is just to be in front of the camera and be on a film set.
Success, I feel, is a byproduct of whatever you are doing... Sometimes
(success) it can be a trap," he told PTI in an interview.
Asked
if he has now entered the A-league of actors such as Shah Rukh Khan,
Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Rajkummar says while the success of a movie is
beyond his control, he is content to have the audience by his side.
"What I believe is to keep working. How a film performs at the box
office is not in my control, what is in my control is my work, how much
honesty I can bring on-screen. I am happy people love me," he says.
When
he started off in the film industry, Rajkummar says he had to wait for
films to come his way, but now the best and biggest filmmakers want to
collaborate with him.
"Today, I have more options to choose from.
Earlier, I had few things to select from. I am trying to be as
selective as I can and I try to do roles that are different and
challenging.
"The perception has changed, I can sense that. The
kind of films I am doing are moderately budgeted and are with A-listers.
I always wanted to work with good people. I am happy it has started at
least," he says.
Now that the actor has become selective in his
work, asked if he would opt only for the roles of the leading man, he
says, "No, not really. If there is an exciting script, even if I have a
smaller part, I would love to do it."
Rajkummar has changed the template of the Bollywood conventional
hero and he believes the credit goes to the writers and directors who
took chances and wrote unusual stories.
"... I was just a part of
their storytelling. As actors, we are a part of the stories, so we
react but it's the writers who come up with such great work. I am glad
this change is happening.
"Our audiences have evolved... They
want to see actors play characters on-screen with whom they can
relate... Who are believable," he adds.
From winning the hearts
of masses to spellbinding the critics, not only in India but also around
the world, Rajkummar says he feels he is going in the right direction.
"I
am happy the way things are going. After 'Omerta', I have some nice
films like 'Fanney Khan', 'Stree', 'Mental Hai Kya', 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha
Toh Aisa Laga' and some more.
"I am on the right path, I guess.
The only thing I hope is I keep getting good stories, I don't want that
to go away. And for people to believe that I can do it," he says.
PTI
