Rajat Bedi has returned to the spotlight, and how! After more than 15 years, the actor has made a triumphant return with Aryan Khan`s directorial debut series, The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. Riding high on the enormous adulation, the actor recounts the chat he had with Shah Rukh Khan before accepting the part, as well as one specific condition he persuaded Aryan to agree to before signing the contract.
Many people know Rajat from his performance in Koi… Mil Gaya, with Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, and Rekha. However, there came a moment when he chose to leave the spotlight and relocate to Canada for several years. Now, he is back in the spotlight, receiving plaudits for his depiction as Jaraj Saxena in The Ba***ds of Bollywood, a fading actor fighting to maintain his relevance.
How Rajat bagged the role
He has emerged as one of the show`s biggest stars, receiving accolades from both crowds and reviewers. In reality, he has advanced from 954th to 9th place on IMDb India.
“The response has been incredible and overwhelming. My entire family is now exposed to it. I feel so fortunate right now. I recently referred to Aryan as an angel in an Instagram post, and I sincerely believe that,” Rajat tells HT.
Rajat continued, “People are appreciating my acting more than my looks. They are loving my performance. Apart from the audience, people from the industry are also calling me to discuss my performance. Vivek Agnihotri messaged me on Instagram saying ‘What a great resurrection’… Harshvardhan Rane messaged me.”
“I have technically come back after 20 years, and people are saying, ‘He`s had patience, determination, and now look at his comeback’. That has inspired so many… It has positively impacted, and it`s everything to do with Aryan,” says Rajat who was one of the prominent names with films like International Khiladi, Jodi No.1, Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani, Chor Machaaye Shor and Indian.
Rajat reveals the condition he kept
Rajat reveals he had been hunting for work for the past three years and had no idea Aryan had a role for him in his directorial debut. Aryan really contacted him and asked him to come to the office.
“Aryan was very sure that he wanted me for this role… Because of what he saw in Koi… Mil Gaya when he was a kid. That was one of the inspirations for him and I just fit into the character completely. If you see the show, there`s a lot of connection with my journey.”
Rajat describes his conversation with Shah Rukh as follows: “I spoke to Shah Rukh and asked him, `Sir, what have you done? What is your son making? Shah Rukh sir informed me, “Dekh le tereko karna hai toh mera beta kuch kar raha hai (My son is making something; see if you want to do it).”
However, Rajat had one condition before saying yes to Aryan. “I said, ‘Aryan. I will only do your thing if you allow my kid to help you. I began my work with your father. My son will begin his career with you. He answered, “Done, Sir…” So, we had this whole deal in place, and my son had been with him for the past two years.”
Rajat confesses that he is currently inundated with offers, but he prefers to take his time and carefully select the best project for his next move.
