Badhaai Ho Star Gajraj Rao: Never Wanted To Struggle To Survive As An Actor

Actor Gajraj Rao, who plays a pivotal role in Badhaai Ho, says though acting is his first love, he never wanted to put a burden of survival on his passion as a performer.

“Honestly speaking, I never wanted to struggle for my survival as an actor. I struggled to bag a good role in a good film. I always wanted to be a part of a story that is worth telling, and work along with good talent that offers me a learning experience,” Gajraj told IANS in an interview here.

After finishing his formal education in acting from the National School Of Drama, Gajraj worked in the fields of copywriting and dialogue writing, as also in an export-import company, before becoming an advertising professional.

“I do not want to tell my family that they have to live in poverty because I am struggling as a creative person. At the same time, I do not want to act in a film where my role has nothing new to offer. So in the last 25 years, I found my way to bag a substantial role in films in a much sustainable manner,” he added.

Starting his career in 1994 with the film Bandit Queen, Gajraj has acted in several films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Yahaan, Black Friday, Aamir and Talvar.

The film Badhaai Ho, which is about parenthood of an elderly couple, sees the actor play a man who finds out that he and his wife are expecting a baby in their late 40s.