With The Rapist, Arjun Rampal can tick one item off his bucket list — collaborating with National Award-winning filmmaker Aparna Sen. “She is a genius, and I was keen to work with her. Before the shoot, she told me that she hadn’t attempted [a subject] as demanding and sensitive as this until now,” says the actor, who is shooting the last leg of the drama in Delhi. Also starring Konkona Sen Sharma, the film reflects the aftermath of a sexual crime. 

Introspective and thought-provoking, Sen’s movies are a far cry from Bollywood fare and took Rampal a bit of getting used to. To ease the actors into the film’s world, the director made them undergo rigorous workshops. “Aparna makes sure that every actor is involved and will not short-change the character. Through the prep, she wants you to understand where she is coming from and what she wants to say. She is a perfectionist and is clear about what she wants, but at the same time, she loves spontaneity. Being an actor, she understands that a director cannot get as close to a character as an actor can,” he adds.