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EXCLUSIVE: Gajraj Rao on Badhaai Ho's success: It is like completing the Mt Everest summit
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Pinkvilla, actor Gajraj Rao talked about Badhaai Ho's success, his co-star Ayushmann Khurrana and his future projects.
This year, films with good content and amazing star cast are a winner at the box office. This month, two films released on the occasion of Dusshera - Namaste England and Badhaai Ho. Badhaai Ho opened to rave reviews and even won people's hearts and hence, it is running successfully at the box office. Directed by Amit Sharma and starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Sanya Malhotra, the film is quite peculiar and a complete family entertainer.
Badhaai Ho is a story of an old couple Jeetender (Gajraj) and Priyamvada (Neena) who are expecting a child while already being parents to 25-year-old Nakuul (Ayushmann) and his younger brother Gullar (Shardul Rana). Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta are the stars of this film as they impress us with their performances and beautiful chemistry. The audience is in awe of this cute couple and their old school romance. It breaks the norm of the society that once a couple is old, their only duty is parenting and they have no time for love. Badhaai Ho has made a collection of 89 crores so far at the box office and it is unstoppable and will soon enter the 100-crore club.
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Pinkvilla, Gajraj Rao talked about playing Jeetender, film's success and his co-star Ayushmann Khurrana.
Did you expect so much love and appreciation for Badhaai Ho?
No, I didn't think it will be such a big hit. This is more than I expected
Were there any moments where you and Neena Gupta discussed your characters and thought people will love us as a couple more than the young ones in the film?
Not at all, it was always about an ensemble cast. The script is the hero of this film. Our film is set against certain taboos and we have broken those taboos. It's not set in a conventional zone and every character is receiving appreciation. For example, I was talking to someone and the person said that it looks like I am the hero. He said Neena and my characters are highlighted more. To some extent, it is awkward also as this film is not possible without Ayushmann. The film wouldn't have been what it is without Ayushmann's sensibilities and his understanding of script and issues.
You have always played the role of a father who is trying to be cool still conservative... in real life how was your relationship with your dad?
It was conventional. He is a simple person. He has struggled a lot in his life. But his understanding of the world was very good. I learned from him that never consider any work as small.
What kind of roles do you wish to do in future?
I'm not in a hurry because, after 25 years, I got this junction. For me, it is like completing the Mt Everest summit. And when a person finishes a summit, he takes everything lightly for a few months or a year. I want to focus on my ad films and I am also working on a film script. If I get any good part in the film in the meantime, I would like to do it with a good director.
What do you think of Ayushmann Khurrana?
He is brilliant. The future belongs to Ayushmann because he is very real. He thinks realistically and the way he works hard, it's incredible. I will tell you a small incident from our promotions in Delhi. We were promoting the film at some news channel and newspaper offices and throughout the day, he was so positive, energetic and so tuned and absolutely aligned with the whole thing. And the next day, we learned about his wife Tahira 's condition. He never let his personal life reflect on his work. He is a strong personality. He didn't achieve anything easily in life and has worked hard. He is very rooted, reads literature. Ayushmann is a visionary; he has a good vision. He will do more such milestone films.
