Surprised that Rajkummar Rao has rarely explored action before despite his background, director Pulkit breaks down the actor’s physical and mental prep for Maalik
Rajkummar Rao in Maalik. Pics/Instagram
Look at Pulkit’s short but impressive filmography, and it’s evident that the director is driven by hard-hitting stories. His pursuit was the same when making Maalik. “For me, the most challenging part was how not to make a simple action film. I wanted to tell a story that has action,” begins the director, recognising how many Hindi actioners rely on stunts rather than story.
But that has never been Pulkit’s modus operandi. For his first theatrical release, the director has reunited with Rajkummar Rao eight years after their web series, Bose: Dead/Alive (2017), to bring a gritty action entertainer about a common man who rises through the ranks to become a gangster in Allahabad. “Bhakshak [2024], Dedh Bigha Zameen [2024], and my upcoming film with Saif Ali Khan have all been based on real-life stories. This time, I wanted a break from reality,” he says.
Pulkit
While Rao attempted action before in Hit: The First Case (2022), Maalik is his first out-and-out actioner. Pulkit says that after Bose: Dead/Alive, he wanted an encore with the actor. “Since the series, I was trying to work something out with Raj as he is an exciting actor to work with. While writing the story, I could only imagine him in the role. Raj immediately gave his nod as the film presents him in a completely different avatar. For an actor, it’s tough to step out of his comfort zone and jump into something so extreme. But Raj doesn’t get challenged easily. He prepares before he comes on sets.”
To play a feared gangster, Rao bulked up and underwent a transformation of sorts. The director shares, “Raj built his body, and grew his hair and beard for over 90 days. He is the kind of actor who will never wear a wig or fake beard. Wearing them makes an actor uncomfortable and restricts their performance. Besides the physical prep, the anger you see in his eyes started when we began our readings. Every time we met for readings, I could see the [mental] transformation taking place.” Ask Pulkit if Rao had to train hard to pull off the stunts, and he surprises us with his answer. “He didn’t need to train at all. Few people know that Raj is a black belt in Taekwondo. So, action wasn’t tough for him. I don’t know why he hasn’t done it before.”
Another on the anvil
Besides Maalik, Pulkit has an investigative drama, titled Kartavya, in the pipeline. The gritty thriller has Saif Ali Khan playing a cop, with Sanjay Mishra and Rasika Dugal as co-stars.
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