Interview : Rajesh Aggarwal

Entertainment industry beakons many aspirants but people with proper training and in-born talent survive. In the entertainment industry a lot of importance is given to the concept of ‘Hero’. But to make someone a hero on screen requires a battery of other artists who elevate his character with their performances. The supporting artist’s role is extremely important in films, serials etc. In earlier times a lot of supporting actors had a ‘Star’ status and in today’s times too supporting actor’s contribution is recognised by the film industry as well as viewers. One such artist from that clan, #RajeshAggarwal, too is winning hearts of viewers through his versatility and impeccable acting prowess. He has been part of #MaharaniSeason3. Senior Editor of CineBuster, Mr Keerti Kadam, interacted with him. Some excerpts….

When did you realize that you want to be an actor?
Actually from my childhood I was attracted towards cinema on the whole. The world on the screen used to fascinate me. Though it was an impressionable age, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the film industry as nothing else was interesting enough for me. I am born and brought up in New Delhi. There are numerous Theatre groups and I was part of one of the major Theatre group which groomed me as an actor. I always thought that I belonged there. I started doing plays from my school days and afterwards took part in college cultural activities and university drama competitions. These competitions honed my acting talent.

I did not have any connections in the film industry as my family is into business. Money was never a problem and my parents did not object me pursuing acting as a profession. More than anything else, I wanted to embrace fame. I am happy that this profession has recognised my talent and potential and I have been getting good offers. In actuality, this is my second innings. In first innings, after doing some work I left industry, took a break in 1996 due to some personal reasons. I started my second innings in 2014.

Do you remember your first break?
Yes. Of course. I remember about my first breaks in Theatre, Films, Television serials, OTT projects. Like I said I have always been passionate about acting as it gives me utmost satisfaction. I did my first play while I was in Delhi. It was directed by KK, “A View from the Bridge”. In it Saurabh Shukla was playing the lead role.

My first break in a serial was in “Zameer” in 1994-1995. It was directed by Rajeev Aggarwal and aired on ZeeTV. I was portraying the lead role and Munmun Sen was playing my mother’s role and Mohan Gokhle was my father in the show. It received good response and I started getting additional recognition after that.

My first film was a documentary which was directed by a talented and a versatile actress Neena Gupta. I played the lead role in the film. It was titled “Bazaar Sitaram”. This film won a National Award. With “Class of 2020” I debuted digital medium. It was my first OTT project wherein I played a character called Dr Badwe. It streamed on Alt Balaji.

How does industry treat supporting actors?
Frankly, if you are a good actor, you command respect. But like any industry, film industry too has good and bad people. Character artists, supporting artists with good roles always are treated with respect. But like said earlier, the bad elements sometimes disappoints you. When I started my second innings, one creative director after finalising one of the 3 investigators, called me on the sets. Then the director asked me to recite the lines on the set in front of everyone and said that whichever actor gets the lines right will be selected. He should have taken a proper audition in a room and selected the actor but sometimes you come across such high handed people. After years of experience on stage, Television and films, this was very humiliating for me, personally.

But there are good incidents too and they are much more. In a recently released Maharani season 3, I am portraying an important role of DGP DK Jha. Everyone on the set gave me very good treatment despite being introduced in this season only while others had bonded during previous two seasons. The show’s creator Mr. Subhash Kapur was very polite, accommodating and bought the best out of me.

Rajesh Aggarwal’s favorites are Dilip Kumar, Neena Gupta and Sanjay Leela Bhansali as an actor, actress and director respectively. He is game for any important role that is challenges him as an actor. He wants to be part of the projects with good directors and good producers, production houses. Only condition being his role should be of importance and relevance for the project.