A few days ago, social media was buzzing about a picture of Rajkummar Rao, clicked at a recent concert in Mumbai. The actor looked visibly different in the picture and had a much lighter and flawless skin. It instantly sparked ‘plastic surgery’ rumours, with many Instagram doctors pointing out all the cosmetic enhancements that they thought he might have gotten done.

The actor has finally addressed the chatter and said that he hasn’t had any plastic surgery done. He did admit to getting chin fillers many years ago – a fact that is evident to anyone who has seen Rajkummar’s early films. More than his admission, it was his reasoning that struck a chord – “If anyone wants to do that to gain confidence, then why not? There is no harm in it.”

In one video chat, he added, “I want to ask people: Do I look better now?”

“I did not get any plastic surgery, but I did get chin fillers some 8-9 years back. I wanted to look confident and my dermatologist suggested a little filler work to balance out my face. Do I feel more confident after that? Yes. It changes perceptions, acting is a visual medium. But plastic surgery? No. It is too expensive, it’s too time consuming.”

----------------------------------

Rajkummar Rao, gearing up for the release of his latest film Srikanth: Aa Raha Hai Sabki Aankhein Kholne, recently found himself in the midst of an intriguing discussion: Did he undergo plastic surgery?

Speculation about whether Rao had chosen cosmetic enhancements surfaced after a photo of the actor from singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh’s recent concert in Mumbai went viral. However, Rao himself addressed these queries, stating, “It is not plastic surgery!”

Delving deeper into the matter during our conversation, he expresses amusement at the entire debate. “I found the whole thing very funny,” he remarks, adding, “I even saw that particular image. I don’t possess such flawless skin. I have lines; I’m not 21 anymore.”

Reflecting on his early days in the industry, the 39-year-old recounts facing comments about his appearance: “Many people in casting and production would say, ‘You won’t be able to play lead roles; you lack the necessary look’.”

“Around eight to nine years ago”, Rao sought advice from an expert for the first time. “She said: ‘Your face is imbalanced’, and it was true; my chin was slightly recessed. I opted for a minor filler, and I genuinely felt the difference. Suddenly, people began commenting, ‘You seem more confident’. Subsequently, projects like Stree (2018) and Badhaai Do (2022) materialized. I deemed it acceptable. It’s my life and my face. If there’s a medical solution available, why not? If it boosts my confidence, I see no harm. As long as it’s not done excessively and alters your appearance drastically,” Rao explains.