Rrahul Sudhir: When I started, I never thought I’d become a lead actor

From an unnamed guest in Gulmohar Grand (2015) to the male lead on TV, Rrahul Sudhir’s journey has been remarkable. Surprisingly, he mentions he never thought he had the potential to become a television hero. Currently portraying the new male lead Yug Sisodia in Dabangii Mulgii Aayi Re Aayi, which recently underwent a 14-year time leap, reflecting on his journey, Rrahul shares, “When I started, I never envisioned becoming a lead actor. I was always very clear that I came here to be a character artiste. I didn’t believe I had the looks and personality to be a lead actor. I still don’t think I have it in me. There are actors more good-looking and talented, who are not in the spotlight. It’s my work that has earned the audience’s appreciation and I consider myself lucky to be here. Mere jaisi shakal ke logon ka bhi ghar wagerah chal jaata hai toh not bad (smiles).”

Not having formal training led him to a path of learning and unlearning on the job. Talking about his approach, he shares, “I always tried to perform better, but didn’t have the tools and understanding. I wasn’t so intellectual to have a profound understanding of life to feel a character. I worked hard not to overact and focussed on delivering lines with emotion and intensity. I followed the reverse process – main bohot hi kharaab karta tha aur usko fine-tune karta hua chalta tha.”




An actor’s learning curve is riddled with positive feedback and criticism. Rrahul, who played an intense and often impassive Vansh Rai Singhania in Ishq Mein Marjawan 2, earned him labels like “wooden actor’ and “robot”. He says, “By the time, I understood acting, I entered TV and had to learn how to act for television. I realised film wali acting yahaan par kaam nahi karega. Aap toh internalise hi karte reh jaaoge yeh soch kar ki camera pakad lega, par yeh medium waisa nahi hai. So, in Marjawan, I came prepared. The poker-faced portrayal was the demand of the character. The criticism was bang on; it made me feel I portrayed Vansh as required. The character needed that approach. The show’s creative wouldn’t let me move even an inch. So, I told myself, ‘This is what you want, I will give it for an entire year’.”

Did it become monotonous? “Yes, my shoulders would ache every night, and my throat as well because I had altered my voice for the show,” he replies with a laugh.