Keep the faith

Rajkummar Rao says he made a cameo in Vinod Rawat’s Pushtaini, which revolves around a struggling actor, to give hope to B-Town aspirants

When director Vinod Rawat narrated Pushtaini’s script to Rajkummar Rao to seek his advice, the actor immediately recognised its potential. He was only too happy to feature in a cameo in his director-friend’s debut feature film. Pushtaini, which will be premièred at the upcoming MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, is centred on struggling actor Bhuppi, who is caught in a scandal and desperate to secure his last chance at stardom. Rao’s scene marks the beginning of his journey. “I have immense faith in Vinod’s talent, and wanted to be a part of his process,” says Rao.

Vinod Rawat

The duo know each other since their Delhi days, when they worked together in a theatre group. While collaborating with his long-time friend was an incentive, Rao says he agreed to the cameo for its larger message. “Bhuppi, who hails from a village, represents many young people whose values and ambitions are challenged almost every day in cities like Mumbai. Through this film, I wanted to reach out to them with a message of hope,” he says.

Pushtaini is also Rawat’s feature debut as an actor-writer-producer and has been shot in his ancestral village in Uttarakhand. Grateful for Rao’s presence in the drama, he says, “I wanted to show the protagonist vulnerable on a film set, in front of a big star. Yet, this star [Rao] embodies ease and grace, and shows him empathy.” 

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