New Delhi: In a recent podcast appearance on Raj Shamani’s show, acclaimed actor Rajkummar Rao opened up about his early career struggles and the important role his wife Patralekhaa played in his personal growth. Known for his impressive roles in films such as Stree and Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, Rao recalled his breakthrough role in the 2010 film Love Sex Aur Dhokha.
Rao, who moved to Mumbai in February 2008, spoke about his tough journey to get his first Bollywood film. He said he first came across an advertisement for Love Sex Aur Dhokha directed by Dibakar Banerjee and met casting director Atul Mongia. Despite several attempts to get an audition, Rao finally got success after constantly sending his photos and attending auditions.
Recalling his audition experience, Rao said, “I went wearing what I felt was appropriate for the brief. I was asked, ‘What are you wearing? Do you have anything else?’ I said, ‘No,'” “At that point I thought I had messed up. I thought I had lost my chance.” Nevertheless, he was eventually told that he had been selected for the lead role in Banerjee’s film, though he was paid just ₹11,000 for the role. Rao stressed, “It was not about the money; it was about the opportunity.”
In the same interview, Rao also praised his wife, actress Patralekhaa, who supported him in improving his English skills. He admitted, “My command over English was very poor. I lacked confidence and could hardly form a coherent sentence. Patralekhaa, knowingly or unknowingly, played a key role in helping me overcome this challenge.”
On the work front, Rao’s most recent project is Stree 2, a sequel to the 2018 horror comedy Stree. Directed by Amar Kaushik, the film takes forward the story of a haunted prostitute seeking justice in Chanderi. The sequel features a star-studded cast including Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee, with special appearances by Akshay Kumar and Varun Dhawan.
