Rajkummar Rao: I’d want my child to know that feeling good about themselves is not about fitting in a mould

Actor Rajkummar Rao, who recently associated with a Traya, addressing hair loss in men, says he has seen closely how deeply the issue affects people around him. "I’ve seen friends and family shy away from the spotlight, avoid photographs, and lose a little bit of themselves with their receding hairline. Hair loss may feel like a personal battle, but its impact goes far beyond the mirror. I knew that giving a voice to the millions of men who are dealing with this silently and often alone would be the right thing to do,” he tells us.

Talking about his own journey with hair health, he adds, “My own journey with hair health has been grounded in awareness. Early on, I understood that hair loss isn’t just about genetics or appearance; it’s a reflection of what’s happening inside the body. Stress, lifestyle, nutrition — they’re all interconnected. And in my profession, taking care of both physical and internal health isn’t just a choice, it’s a responsibility.”




Now that he has stepped into fatherhood, ask him what lessons about self-image he would like to pass on to his child, and Rao says, “I’d say: make choices for yourself, not for any validation. Confidence comes from doing the work, whether that’s learning empathy, learning a craft, or looking after your health. I’d want my child to know that feeling good about themselves is not about fitting in a mould but about being honest about what they need and acting on it.”

He adds a message for young men: “Vulnerability is not a weakness. Taking care of your body and mind is a responsibility, not vanity. And prioritising yourself is not selfishness but self-care. That’s the legacy I’d like to pass on.”

The actor has a busy slate ahead — from Aditya Nimbalkar’s next to his home production Toaster, and the MHCU, popularly known as the Stree universe. “I’m very excited about our lineup of films. Toaster is especially close to my heart, Patralekhaa and I have worked on it closely; it’s her first time producing. At this stage, I’m drawn to stories that challenge me and feel honest. I’m looking for characters with depth and narratives that say something meaningful, I want to build a body of work that’s diverse, impactful, and creatively fulfilling," he concludes. Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”