Saptaraj Chakraborty: Raftaar gave a lived-in performance

Years after Raftaar expressed disinterest in acting, Bajao directors on how they convinced him to play a Punjabi rapper in the series

In an interview in 2018, Raftaar had said, “Mere ko hero banna hi nahin hai.” The rapper was more than happy belting out hits behind the mic; facing the camera was not on the cards. Which is why it’s surprising to see Raftaar headline the upcoming comedy series, Bajao. The Jio Studios offering—also starring Sahil Khattar, Mahira Sharma and Monalisa—is centred on three Delhi boys trying to make a mark in the Punjabi music industry. 

When they set out to make a light-hearted offering on the Punjabi music industry, directors Shiva Varma and Saptaraj Chakraborty were keen that Raftaar play one of the protagonists. How did they bring the Swag mera desi hitmaker on board? Varma says, “Convincing Raftaar to make his [acting] debut in the series was a breeze, thanks to our long association with him. When we narrated the story to him, he instantly connected with it and the character of Babbar. He exclaimed, ‘Let’s bajao it!’”

Chakraborty adds that Raftaar, being a musician, understood the show’s universe. He credits the rapper for adding nuances to the role as they shot the show last year. “We had a few insider theories [about the world of rap], and they all matched when we were discussing with him. Raftaar gave a lived-in performance.”

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