As he shares screen space with Rao in Bose web series, Naveen says his career is headed in the right direction
Naveen Kasturia
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He might have started out as an assistant director, but Naveen Kasturia knew that he belonged in front of the camera, not behind it.
His belief has been validated since — after winning acclaim for his acts in Sulemani Keeda (2014) and TVF Pitchers (2015), Kasturia has now been roped in to play Darbari Lal in the web series, Bose: Dead/Alive.
Kasturia tells mid-day, "The story is narrated from my point of view. I play a hawaldar who witnesses the revolution led by Subhash Chandra Bose."
Naveen Kasturia's look in Bose: Dead/Alive
Working with Rajkummar Rao, who plays the enigmatic leader, brought back memories for Kasturia — the latter was an assistant director on Rao's 'Love Sex Aur Dhokha' (2010). "I remember I’d go to the vanity van to call Raj for his shots," he reminisces and goes on to add, "I was nervous about shooting with Raj. He gave me tips to get my character right, also teaching me how to smoke, for a scene."
Rajkummar Rao as Bose
Besides Bose, the actor has also begun shooting for a new web series, Social, that stars Rana Daggubati. About his role, Kasturia says, "I play a doting brother who is in search of his missing sister. The kidnapping goes on to unravel many more mysteries."
With two web series and a film with Naseeruddin Shah under his belt, he feels his career is finally shaping up the way he had envisioned. "After Pitchers, I felt I had arrived. But, I wasn’t offered anything for a year. Now, things are finally picking up. Acting has given me respect and exposure. It’s all I want to do."