Bhramam star Raashi Khanna, in an exclusive conversation with IndiaToday.in, spoke about her role in the Andhadhun remake. She also opened up about the digital boom widening the space for actors.
Raashi Khanna stepped into the shoes of Radhika Apte in Bhrmam.
Chennai,UPDATED: Oct 7, 2021 11:48 IST
For Raashi Khanna, her characters mean the most. She doesn’t want to be an actress who does nothing in a film. And she makes sure her choices reflect just that. Right from Oohalu Gusagusalade to Imaikaa Nodigal, or Tughlaq Dubar, she makes sure her characters have agency.
Raashi’s latest release is Bhramam, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on October 7. Directed by Ravi K Chandran, Bhramam is the official Malayalam remake of the Hindi blockbuster film, Andhadhun. The Malayalam version features Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mamta Mohandas and Raashi Khanna in lead roles.
A: After Villain, I’ve always wanted to do another Malayalam film, but I never got the time to explore that option. But when Bhramam came to me, I made time for it specifically. It couldn’t have been better than this – with Prithviraj, who’s already a superstar and Ravi K Chandran as the director. He’s somebody whose frames are magic. Coming into that frame was a dream I always had. Also, it’s a remake of Andhadhun which honestly cannot go wrong. So, I thought that this was a perfect way to make it happen. And I actually made it happen and fought and fought for dates. I genuinely believe that the audience will receive it well.
Q: Andhadhun was a blockbuster. Was that thought there at the back of your mind when you signed it?
A: There is always pressure to live up to the original, but it’s about adding some more elements to that story. We’ve changed the screenplay to appeal to the Malayalam audience. I didn’t really take that pressure because there’s nothing that can go wrong with this film, even if you remake it. All we can do is bring in our sincerity to the characters, as the original cast did. Even though it’s a remake, you will see some original content. We stayed true to the character so much that none of us really saw Andhadhun again. We saw it when it was released, but we didn’t re-watch it as we didn’t want to get influenced by the actors.
Q: You step into the shoes of Radhika Apte in Bhramam. Can you tell us about your preparation?
A: A lot of characters in the film have a lot of grey shades. It lets us explore the finer traits of being an actor. Secondly, to be able to see me in the shoes of Radhika Apte – I have to thank Ravi sir for thinking that I could pull it off and I was not just another face. I hope I have done justice to it. I have tried to bring originality to the character in the best possible way in terms of how she behaves. Radhika’s character is out there, while mine is not out there like hers. I think I have tried to stay true to the craft and read the character for what it is, rather than to be influenced by what was already done. There is pressure because Radhika had already done a good job. I have tried to be as honest as I could and honestly, I am not worried about comparisons.
Q: How was your experience shooting with Mamta Mohandas and Prithviraj Sukumaran?
A: Mamta is a very nice person. She understands that Malayalam is not my language and there was a scene that we had to improvise. But, she and Prithviraj understood that and made me comfortable so that it is easier to improvise. When you work with experienced people like Prithviraj and Mamta, you know how much they bring to the table.
Q: Your characters, even in commercial films, have agency. Is that your prerogative before selecting a script?
A: For me, even if you do a small role, people should talk about it. You shouldn’t be just another added element into the scene. Even at the script level, it doesn’t happen, you – as a heroine – should make it happen. Even in films where I don’t have much to do, there would still be people who talk about me. That’s how much importance I give to my craft. I don’t want to be in a film just because it’s good to see my name there. I want to add a bit of me, so people can remember me for it. That led me to these opportunities.
Q: So you will soon be seen in a web series with Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi. Can you share your experience of acting with them?
A: It’s fascinating to be on the set as I learn something or the other every day – be it from the directors [Raj and DK] or Vijay Sethupathi or Shahid Kapoor. All of them are dedicated to their craft. I have done a Tamil film with Vijay Sethupathi. In this case, he feels the way I have felt when did the (Tamil) film, because of the language. But he has really worked on his Hindi. When actors like him come on board, we can see how passionate they are. As actors, we obviously learn the language and try to give our best. That’s exactly what we’re doing and we have a great ensemble cast.
Q: Your upcoming films are proper commercial entertainers. Can you give us a bit about your lineup?
A: I am thrilled about the release of Pakka Commercial with Maruthi sir. It’s a fascinating film and it has been a joy every day on set. I actually felt like I was the hero of the set while shooting. You will love that character for its comic timing. I am doing a love story titled Thank You with Naga Chaitanya. It is something I am really looking forward to. Coming to Tamil, I have Aranmanai 3, which is a horror comedy. I don’t think it can go wrong as people have an appetite for it.
Q: How have OTT platforms widened the space for actors?
A: I think, the age of actors has begun. I don’t see a star anymore. Unless you can really prove yourself an actor, it doesn’t matter where you come from. You have to be able to be good at your craft, otherwise, you won’t exist for too long. Coming to OTT platforms, people are open to watching all kinds of films. Expectations among the audience have increased in terms of acting. Now, they want actors to own the role. The stardom will die down eventually and the age of the actors has begun. We still have a long way to go.
