Rajkummar Rao is currently making waves at the box office for his latest release Stree 2 alongside Shraddha Kapoor. He has recently talked about his unique approach to acting career, revealing his reluctance to cultivate a brand identity akin to that of Bollywood’s megastars, like Shah Rukh Khan.
Rajkummar on cultivating SRK-style brand identity
During a conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, the discussion shifted towards Shah Rukh Khan’s well-established public persona. The host said, "Shah Rukh Khan is always there for women and the people in his life… His giving nature… That kind of clarity works. Maybe he’s like this in real life, but maybe it’s also important to be a little strategic about how you appear in public,” and asked Rajkummar, “Do you think that’s for you?”
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To which, the Srikanth actor quipped, “Acting is an art. We’re making cinema, we’re creating something. If it’s an art form, why am I turning myself into a brand? I’m not a product. I’m a human being who feels things and recreates those emotions. It’s a very internal process. I don’t see myself as a product or a brand. I want to see myself only as an artist. I’m here to create, I’m here to surprise my audience, I’m here to surprise myself.”
Rajkummar Rao’s latest film, Stree 2, has proven to be a massive success, becoming the highest-grossing film of his career. With earnings surpassing Rs 450 crore worldwide, the film has solidified its standing in the industry.
The host mentioned that major stars often have a defining word linked to them, like “Shah Rukh Khan equals love.” He then asked Rajkummar Rao what word he would like to be associated with. Rajkummar replied, “I haven’t thought about this… But I don’t want to be in that trap. I don’t want to be a slave to that… I’m an actor. I have to be a chameleon, I have to change myself.”
Despite his personal views, Rajkummar frequently mentions the influence of Shah Rukh Khan on his career. The wisdom and advice shared by King Khan have been valuable to the actor.