Amid ‘Srikanth’ Release, 10 Times Rajkummar Rao Wowed Fans With His Impeccable Performances
As Rajkummar Rao’s new Hindi movie ‘Srikanth’ released in theatres on Friday, we decided to take a look at some of his best performances.
Rajkummar Rao is arguably one of the most versatile and talented actors in Bollywood. Born on August 31, 1984, in Gurugram, Haryana, Rajkummar Rao's journey into the world of cinema is nothing short of inspiring. Raised in a middle class family, Rajkummar Rao had a passion for acting from a young age. After completing his schooling in Gurugram, he went on to graduate from Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, Delhi University with a degree in Arts. While studying in college, he was performing theatre with Kshitij Repertory, and Shri Ram Centre in Delhi. Upon graduating, Rajkummar Rao enrolled himself at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune to hone his craft and pursue his career in acting.
Rajkummar Rao stepped into the movie business with Dibakar Banerjee’s anthology ‘Love Sex Aur Dhokha’ in 2010. In the three-part anthology, Rajkummar Rao appeared in the one titled ‘Paap Ki Dukaan’ paired opposite Neha Chauhan. The movie opened to critical acclaim and was declared a commercial success. His performance in the film also garnered him praise and set the stage for his future success.
Despite his promising debut, Rajkummar Rao faced his share of struggles in the highly competitive Bollywood industry. He appeared in supporting roles in films like ‘Ragini MMS’ (2011) and ‘Shaitan’ (2011). He also appeared in movies like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur: Part 2’, ‘Chittagong’ and ‘Talaash: The Answer Lies Within’ before getting his big break.
The Indian actor finally gained recognition for his acting as he was seen playing one of three lead actors in Abhishek Kapoor’s 2013 movie ‘Kai Po Che’, co-starring Amit Sadh and late Sushant Singh Rajput. His portrayal of Govind in the movie won him immense praise and he also won a Filmfare Award for the same.
Following the commercial and critical success of his previous project, Rajkummar Rao was seen playing the lead role in Hansal Mehta’s film ‘Shahid’, which not only won him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor but also his first National Film Award for Best Actor. His portrayal of real-life lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi in the 2013 Hindi movie earned him widespread praise. Rajkummar Rao’s career continued to soar as he delivered one stellar performance after another. He showcased his versatility in films like ‘Queen’, ‘CityLights’ and ‘Aligarh’, proving his ability to excel in a variety of roles.
In 2017, Rajkummar Rao had a breakthrough year with three critically acclaimed films. He portrayed the role of a man trapped in an apartment for weeks in ‘Trapped’, a small-town government clerk in ‘Newton’, and showed off his comedic side in ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’. His performances earned him widespread acclaim and cemented his reputation as one of the finest actors of his generation.
Rajkummar Rao's dedication to his craft is evident in his immersive approach to his roles. He is known for undergoing physical transformations and deeply immersing himself in the characters he portrays. Whether it's gaining weight for ‘Bose: Dead/Alive’ (2017) or losing weight for ‘Trapped’ (2017), the Bollywood actor’s commitment to his characters is truly unwavering and impressive.
In addition to his film work, Rajkummar Rao has also ventured into the digital space, proving proven his versatility by effortlessly transitioning between different mediums.
Rajkummar Rao's journey from a small-town boy with big dreams to one of Bollywood's most sought-after actors is a testament to his talent, perseverance, and dedication. With numerous awards and accolades to his name, the Bollywood actor continues to push the boundaries of Indian cinema with his nuanced performances and versatile portrayals.
The Bollywood actor has now come out with a new Hindi movie titled ‘Srikanth’, co-starring Alaya F. Amid the immense praise he’s receiving for his performance in ‘Srikanth’, we decided to take a look at some of his best performances over the years.
Without further ado, check out the list here:
1. ‘Shahid’: This critically acclaimed Indian biographical drama film released in 2013. Directed by Hansal Mehta, the movie portrayed the true story of Shahid Azmi, a human rights lawyer and activist who was assassinated in 2010. Rajkummar Rao delivered a stellar performance in the titular role of Shahid Azmi. His portrayal perfectly captured the complexities and struggles of the character with remarkable depth and authenticity, earning him widespread praise from audiences and critics alike. The film also featured stellar performances by other actors including Prabhleen Sandhu, Baljinder Kaur, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. ‘Shahid’ was released to critical acclaim and garnered numerous awards and nominations.
2. ‘Kai Po Che’: The 2013 Hindi movie, based on Chetan Bhagat's novel ‘The 3 Mistakes of My Life’, was directed by Abhishek Kapoor. The film, starring Rajkummar Rao, Amit Sadh and the late Sushant Singh Rajput, explored the friendship and dreams of three young men against the backdrop of significant events in India's recent history, including the Gujarat earthquake of 2001 and the Godhra train burning incident of 2002. Rajkummar Rao's portrayal of Govind Patel, a level-headed and ambitious young man, is marked by his intensity and sincerity. Rajkummar Rao's performance was praised for its subtlety and authenticity, adding depth to the trio's dynamic. The movie, which resonated with audiences for its compelling narrative, memorable characters and its exploration of themes such as friendship, ambition and resilience in the face of adversity, received critical acclaim. It also performed well at the box office, grossing over Rs 49 crore in India and Rs 74 crore worldwide.
3.‘Citylights’: For this movie, Rajkummar Rao reunited with Hansal Mehta. The Hindi drama film, which released in 2014, was special for Rajkummar Rao for many reasons. Rajkummar Rao met the love of his life, actress Patralekhaa, on the sets of the 2014 Hindi movie. The movie, a Hindi adaptation of the British film ‘Metro Manila’, revolved around the struggles of a rural couple who migrate to Mumbai in search of a better life. Rajkummar Rao played the lead role of Deepak Singh, a simple man who moves to Mumbai with his wife and daughter, hoping to find prosperity but instead finds himself caught in the harsh realities of the city. Alongside Rajkummar Rao, the film starred Patralekhaa in the role of Deepak's wife, Rakhi. Their chemistry and performances added depth and authenticity to the portrayal of their characters’ struggles in the Hansal Mehta directorial. The movie opened to critical acclaim for its realistic depiction of urban poverty and the challenges faced by migrants in metropolitan cities. The film, which received praise for its gripping narrative, strong performances, and poignant social commentary, had a moderate performance at the box office.
4. 'Trapped’: The Hindi survival thriller film, which released in 2017, was directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. The film starred Rajkummar Rao in the lead role and is known for its innovative premise and intense portrayal of a man trapped in an apartment. Rajkummar Rao delivered a gripping performance as Shaurya, a young man who gets locked inside his apartment in a high-rise building in Mumbai. As the days pass by and his resources dwindle, Shaurya decides to confront his fears and devise ways to survive. Apart from Rajkummar Rao, the film also featured Geetanjali Thapa. The movie received critical acclaim for its unconventional storyline and screenplay, and Rajkummar Rao's impeccable performance. Despite being a niche film with limited commercial appeal, ‘Trapped’ garnered positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. It was lauded for its originality, establishing Rajkummar Rao as one of the most versatile actors in contemporary Indian cinema. What’s more? Rajkummar Rao lost nearly seven kgs in 22 days for his role in the movie.
5. ‘Newton’: Just give Rajkummar Rao an award for trying out something new in each of his film! ‘Newton’, a Hindi dark comedy-drama film, released in 2017 and was directed by Amit V Masurkar. The film explored the complexities of democracy and electoral processes in rural India through the eyes of its protagonist, Newton Kumar (Rajkummar Rao). The Bollywood actor portrayed the titular character, Newton Kumar, a sincere and idealistic government clerk who is assigned the duty of conducting elections in a conflict-ridden area of Chhattisgarh. Apart from Rajkummar Rao, the film featured stellar performances by Pankaj Tripathi, Anjali Patil and Raghubir Yadav. ‘Newton’ remains an iconic movie in Rajkummar Rao’s filmography and is hailed as one of his finest performances. He effortlessly showcased the sincerity and integrity of his character, bringing a perfect balance of humour and gravitas to the role. The movie was released to widespread critical acclaim for its intelligent writing, nuanced performances, and thought-provoking narrative. The film received numerous awards and nominations. ‘Newton’ was also India’s official entry to the 90th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
6.‘Omerta’: The 2018 Hindi biographical crime drama film released in 2018 and was directed by Hansal Mehta. The film, featuring Rajkummar Rao in one of his finest performances, delved into the life of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British terrorist of Pakistani descent, known for his involvement in various terrorist activities. Rajkummar Rao portrayed the role of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in a chilling and intense manner, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Rajkummar Rao's performance was marked by its raw authenticity, as he embodied the sinister charisma and cold-blooded nature of the character with precision. Apart from Rajkummar Rao, the film featured performances by other actors, including Rajesh Tailang and Satwant Kaur. ‘Omerta’ opened to critical acclaim for its gritty portrayal of terrorism. The film also received praise for its realistic depiction of events. Despite receiving positive reviews from critics, ‘Omerta’ had a limited release and did not perform well at the box office. However, it garnered acclaim for its bold storytelling and Rajkummar Rao's powerful performance, cementing its status as a cult classic among cinephiles.
7. ‘Stree’: While Rajkummar Rao had showcased his comedic side in earlier movies like ‘Dolly Ki Doli’, ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, and more, he took up a full-fledged comedy role in the 2018 Hindi horror-comedy film ‘Stree’. Directed by Amar Kaushik, the film is inspired by the urban legend of the ‘Nale Ba’ witch from Karnataka, India, and revolves around the mysterious disappearance of men from a small town during an annual festival. Rajkummar Rao played the lead role of Vicky, a small-town tailor who falls in love with a mysterious woman played by Shraddha Kapoor. Alongside Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, the film also featured Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, and Abhishek Banerjee in supporting roles. ‘Stree’ was a critical and commercial success, grossing over Rs 129 crore in India and Rs 182 crore globally. The film's unique blend of horror and comedy resonated with audiences, making it a hit. Rajkummar Rao's performance in ‘Stree’ was widely praised for his impeccable comic timing and ability to effortlessly switch between humour and vulnerability. He brought charm and relatability to his character, making Vicky an endearing protagonist amid the supernatural chaos unfolding in the town.
8. ‘Badhaai Do’: Rajkummar Rao returned to the comedy genre in 2022 with the Hindi film ‘Badhaai Do’, co-starring Bhumi Pednekar. Directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, the 2022 Hindi movie was a sequel to the 2018 film ‘Badhaai Ho’. Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar’s movie explored themes of family, relationships, and societal norms. Rajkummar Rao starred in the lead role as Shardul Thakur, a gay police officer living in a small town in Rajasthan. Bhumi Pednekar played the role of Sumi Yadav, a school teacher with her own secrets and challenges. ‘Badhaai Do’ was released to positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The film also received praise for its progressive portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in mainstream Indian cinema and its nuanced exploration of social issues. Rajkummar Rao’s performance in ‘Badhaai Do’ was praised, with critics lauding his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his character. He portrayed Shardul with a perfect balance of sensitivity, humour, and emotional depth.
9. ‘Monica, O My Darling’: This 2022 Netflix movie starred Rajkummar Rao, Radhika Apte and Huma Qureshi in the lead roles. The Vasan Bala directorial was a murder mystery where an ambitious man called Jayant Arkhedkar (Rajkummar Rao) finds himself at the centre of a web of blackmail and manipulation. The Hindi dark comedy crime thriller was one of the most entertaining films to drop on OTT in 2022. The film is based on a book by Japanese author Keigo Higashino about a man trying to pull off the perfect murder. In the comic crime thriller, Rajkummar Rao essayed the role of a sharp engineer who stumbles into a deadly mystery while attempting to hide his secrets through an absurd plot to kill. Rajkummar Rao’s performance in the Hindi movie was definitely a standout. The dark comedy drama also starred Sikandar Kher, Zayn Marie Khan, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and Sukant Goel.
10. ‘Guns & Gulaabs’: This Netflix show was released in August 2023 and starred Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan, Adarsh Gourav and Gulshan Devaiah in the lead roles. The series is set in the fictitious town of Gulaabganj and it has been designed as an ode to 1990s Bollywood. The series follows a love-struck mechanic, a reluctant heir to a ruling gang, and an honest officer-turned-agent-of-chaos. Rajkummar Rao won hearts for his role as ‘Tipu’, where we see him progress from a shy and naive mechanic to a gangster called ‘Paana Tipu’. And this is definitely the funniest Rajkummar Rao has ever been as the Netflix series showcased his impeccable comic timing. He essayed the role with so much ease that one could not take their eyes off him in the 2023 Netflix series, directed by ace duo Raj and DK.
As he continues to captivate audiences with the new Hindi movie ‘Srikanth’ and the upcoming film ‘Mr & Mrs Mahi’, there is no doubt that the best is yet to come for Rajkummar Rao.
