Rajkummar says Anushka is a sensible person
Panaji:
Kai Po Che actor Rajkummar Rao hascleared the air about the recent casting controversy that he hasbeen ousted from the upcoming film NH 10 on the insistence ofactress and co-producer Anushka Sharma.
The 25-year-old Band Baaja Baaraat actress isco-producing the action thriller about a road trip gone wrongwith Phantom Films.
Rajkummar, 29, says the decision to back off from themuch-delayed project was mutual as he had already committed toanother film and he has no issues with Anushka.
"I never signed NH 10 officially. I was supposed to doit. Then it got delayed. Then I moved on to other films likeKai Po Che and Shahid. Then I started working on anotherfilm. I can't do two films at the same time. I prefer doingone film at a time," Rajkummar told PTI in an interview on thesidelines of IFFI.
"So it was a mutual decision. I share a very good relationwith the team. I think Anushka is also a very sensible girl.She is a really good actor and I don't think she will doanything like that," he added.
According to some reports, Anushka decided to replaceRajkummar with actor Neil Bhoopalam, who is currently a partof Anil Kapoor's 24.
Rajkummar's last three films - Talaash, Kai Po Che andShahid have been hugely successful. In Shahid, directed byHansal Mehta, the actor received rave reviews for hissensitive and accurate portrayal of lawyer and human rightsactivist, Shahid Azmi, who was assassinated in 2010 in Mumbai.
When asked if the success of the film has sunk in yet,Rajkummar said, "Yes it has in a way. We have got a lot ofgreat response. Everyone who has seen the film has loved it. Ithink it is a great feeling. But now it's all over and I havemoved on to another film... I have undertaken a new journey."
Shahid's success has also paved a way for a secondcollaboration between Rajkummar and Mehta. The duo will worktogether in City of Lights which is being produced by FoxStar Studios and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.
"We have started working on that. City of Lights is anofficial remake of the 2013 British-Filipino film Metro Manila.We are just adapting it to the Indian context. It's a greatscript. It's a human drama about a couple," he said.
Rajkummar had a rather unconventional Bollywood debut withDibakar Bannerjee's anthology film Love, Sex Aur Dhoka in2010. But the actor has done pretty well for himself in thelast three years.
Rajkummar says he does not bother much about the praisethat is coming his way and wants to rather focus on buildinghis career on his achievements.
"It feels great. I am really happy and thankful to Godthat my career is going in a correct direction. It is veryflattering. But I feel it's too early to begin to enjoy it. Istill have a long way to go. The start is really good. I justwant to concentrate and not get carried away by all thelaurels that are coming my way.
"I want to be honest to my craft. It gets a littledifficult dealing with the fame and adulation. But you alwayshave a choice. You either get carried away or not get affectedand continue to do your work," Rajkummar said.
The actor has recently changed his surname from Yadav toRao and also added an extra 'M' to his name."I always wanted o change it and anyway Yadav or Rao arethe same surname, so it does not matter much. My mother askedme to put an extra 'M' and she asked me to do a whole lot ofthings. I told her I can't do all of that but only this much.I think she is just being a concerned mom just like how allmoms are," he said.
The 25-year-old Band Baaja Baaraat actress isco-producing the action thriller about a road trip gone wrongwith Phantom Films.
Rajkummar, 29, says the decision to back off from themuch-delayed project was mutual as he had already committed toanother film and he has no issues with Anushka.
"I never signed NH 10 officially. I was supposed to doit. Then it got delayed. Then I moved on to other films likeKai Po Che and Shahid. Then I started working on anotherfilm. I can't do two films at the same time. I prefer doingone film at a time," Rajkummar told PTI in an interview on thesidelines of IFFI.
"So it was a mutual decision. I share a very good relationwith the team. I think Anushka is also a very sensible girl.She is a really good actor and I don't think she will doanything like that," he added.
According to some reports, Anushka decided to replaceRajkummar with actor Neil Bhoopalam, who is currently a partof Anil Kapoor's 24.
Rajkummar's last three films - Talaash, Kai Po Che andShahid have been hugely successful. In Shahid, directed byHansal Mehta, the actor received rave reviews for hissensitive and accurate portrayal of lawyer and human rightsactivist, Shahid Azmi, who was assassinated in 2010 in Mumbai.
When asked if the success of the film has sunk in yet,Rajkummar said, "Yes it has in a way. We have got a lot ofgreat response. Everyone who has seen the film has loved it. Ithink it is a great feeling. But now it's all over and I havemoved on to another film... I have undertaken a new journey."
Shahid's success has also paved a way for a secondcollaboration between Rajkummar and Mehta. The duo will worktogether in City of Lights which is being produced by FoxStar Studios and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.
"We have started working on that. City of Lights is anofficial remake of the 2013 British-Filipino film Metro Manila.We are just adapting it to the Indian context. It's a greatscript. It's a human drama about a couple," he said.
Rajkummar had a rather unconventional Bollywood debut withDibakar Bannerjee's anthology film Love, Sex Aur Dhoka in2010. But the actor has done pretty well for himself in thelast three years.
Rajkummar says he does not bother much about the praisethat is coming his way and wants to rather focus on buildinghis career on his achievements.
"It feels great. I am really happy and thankful to Godthat my career is going in a correct direction. It is veryflattering. But I feel it's too early to begin to enjoy it. Istill have a long way to go. The start is really good. I justwant to concentrate and not get carried away by all thelaurels that are coming my way.
"I want to be honest to my craft. It gets a littledifficult dealing with the fame and adulation. But you alwayshave a choice. You either get carried away or not get affectedand continue to do your work," Rajkummar said.
The actor has recently changed his surname from Yadav toRao and also added an extra 'M' to his name."I always wanted o change it and anyway Yadav or Rao arethe same surname, so it does not matter much. My mother askedme to put an extra 'M' and she asked me to do a whole lot ofthings. I told her I can't do all of that but only this much.I think she is just being a concerned mom just like how allmoms are," he said.
