There was once a time when Gajraj Rao was a bit underconfident as he lacked proficiency in English. But, after he began working in theatre, things changed. “People like (actors) Ashish Vidyarthi, NK Sharma and Shefali Bhushan were proficient in English, but they did not make it their weapon... Mere andar jo khauf tha aur sharam thi angrezi zubaan ko lekar, wo kam ho gayi,” he tells us on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, today.

Cut to the present day, Rao gets scripts in Hindi itself. “[When I started out in films] I began insisting on scripts in Devanagari and people were kind enough to accommodate my request. I think in Hindi, so I like scripts to be in that language,” says the Satyaprem Ki Katha actor.

He admits not knowing English was considered a drawback at one time, but he is happy to see things have change. “Over the past 10-15 years, I have noticed a change, a growing acceptance within society, which is something I truly value. Even at present, I am filming for a web show in Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) and the script is delivered to me daily in Devanagari. Bhasha ko lekar elitism nahin raha ab, jo 25-30 saal pehle tha,” reveals the 52-year-old, who released his first Hindi podcast recently.

Personally, too, there is no discomfort he faces in speaking in Hindi. “Whether it is a narration or a conversation with a filmmaker, I speak in Hindi, even if the other party speaks in English. Also, during interviews, I make an effort to respond in Hindi,” says the actor, adding, “Language should be a bridge, not a barrier.”