Rahul Bose reveals his mother slapped him every day for 5 years, forced him to play Rugby: ‘I was useless, it helped me’

Rahul Bose, a seasoned actor in Hindi cinema for nearly 30 years, recently reflected on how his parents’ unconventional approach to gender roles influenced his perspective. Growing up in such an environment helped him develop a deeper awareness and a more thoughtful understanding of the world around him.

Unconventional Upbringing

The actor recently shared with ANI how his parents defied traditional gender roles in their household. His father was more focused on grooming and appearance, whereas his mother prioritized her career and took on roles typically seen as masculine. He said, “I was woke way before the word came up because my mother never cooked, my father cooked. My mother slapped me every day for 5 years. I was such a nikamma (useless) that it only helped me. And you can’t say that these days but believe me I was such a nikamma those days that it only helped. She forced me to play Rugby and box.”

Father’s Apprehension

Bose recalled how his father reacted to his passion for physically demanding sports. He said, “I boxed in school and my father was appalled. He wanted me to wear a cap so that I wouldn’t get too dark in the sun. He wanted me to play cricket and be a gentleman. He saw me playing rugby and never looked at the field when he would walk in.”

A Product of Contrasts

He shared how the contrasting roles of his parents played a significant part in shaping who he is today. He described, “I am the product of a father who would ask what we should wear at a wedding and a mother who asked what should I do with my career. This is exactly opposite.”

Acclaimed Career

Rahul Bose has earned acclaim for his distinctive and layered roles in films like 'Mr. and Mrs. Iyer', 'I Am', 'Bulbbul', and 'Kaalpurush'. Most recently, he appeared in the movie Berlin, continuing to showcase his versatile acting skills.