Rajkummar Rao: National Award is too soon for me
By Rachana Sheth, Glamsham Editorial
The moment 61st National Film Awards were announced, Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao, who won National Award for the Best Actor for SHAHID, was swamped with praises and congratulatory phone calls.
While it didn't surprise us, Rajkummar found it unreal the minute he got to know that he has won the coveted Award. "It's absolutely amazing and equally exciting. From the time I won award my phone hasn't stopped ringing for a minute. It was very unreal. Nevertheless, I am super happy about it," he expresses and adds in same breath, "I didn't expect National Award to happen so soon and at such an early stage of my career."
Ask him while working on SHAHID he ever believed that the film will be received in such a manner and Rajkummar says plainly, "We did SHAHID with fully honesty. I think all our hard work has paid-off well. Besides, I am a kind of person who never thinks of past or future. I just believe in enjoying the process. So, SHAHID was a good working experience."
After back-to-back triumph in the form of KAI PO CHE!, SHAHID and QUEEN, probe Rajkummar about his celebration plans and he reveals, "Yes we want to celebrate but both Hansal Mehta (SHAHID director) and I are extremely busy with our respective projects. Hansal is busy with the post-production work of CITYLIGHTS and I am tied-up with DOLLY KI DOLI. May be in a couple of days we'll plan to throw a party or so."
Just after SHAHID happened, the actor stunned one and all by changing his name to Rajkummar Rao from Rajkumar Yadav. Quiz him if modifying the name made any difference to his career and if it was done deliberately and Rajkummar smiles, "I didn't change surname for that reason. I haven't changed it for the sake of it or to gain something. Both my mom and I wanted to change it from quite some time."
His QUEEN team, co-star Kangana Ranaut and director Vikas Bahl were also elated over his win. "Everybody is surprised and happy with my success. Kangana and Vikas truly felt that I deserved it," he shares.
Now that Rajkummar is in a different league altogether after winning National Award for SHAHID, ask him if he plans to change his gears from here on and he says on a parting note, "For me script is of utmost importance and I don't go as per any game-plan."
