I want to do both indie and commercial cinema: Raj

“I would like to do all kinds of films. I have already done quite a few successful commercial films like Ragini MMS and I have also done independent films. In future, I would like to continue doing both commercial and independent films,” Raj told IANS.

The 29-year old, who has also featured in films such as Chittagong and Shahid, said: “I see film as film and I don’t like to categorise them. As an actor, I always look forward to doing all types of films.” In his three-year-old career, Raj has played varied roles. “I would say it has been a conscious decision to do different roles. I was quite lucky that I got such parts and such scripts. I have also been quite careful in choosing my scripts and I will continue being like that in the future as well,” he added.

When asked if he wouldn’t do a particular kind of role or film, he said, “I’m an actor and I can’t restrict myself. I want to be prepared to do any kind of film or role.” Raj, who has worked with Bollywood stars such as Aamir Khan and Manoj Bajpayee, is being regarded as the next Nawazuddin Siddiqui. However, he doesn’t like being compared to anyone. “I don’t like to be compared. I have immense respect for Nawaz. I’m his big fan but I just want to make my own identity and I don’t want to be called anybody’s next. I’m happy being accepted and appreciated as Raj Kumar.”

As an actor, he has worked with some of India’s best and finest filmmakers such as Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap, Bejoy Nambiar and Abhishek Kapoor, but he bestows significance to the plot. “I always give importance to the story because it is what makes a film work at the box office. If you have a powerful story then everything else automatically falls in place,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2013.

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