Rajkummar Rao’s recent appearance at the Bolti Khidkiyaan film fest set social media abuzz. The actor looked noticeably different from his usual self – a few kilos heavier, with thinner hair and a slightly haggard appearance – sparking widespread concern online. Fans on social media were quick to jump to conclusions, with unverified claims and chatter about his health and career doing the rounds.

When we reached out to Rajkummar, the actor told us, “It’s strange how people can jump to conclusions and get judgemental without even checking the facts. I gained around 10 kg for the upcoming biopic Nikam (based on Ujjwal Nikam, the special public prosecutor and politician, known for handling high-profile cases), for which I had to look older. I am also in the transition phase where I am preparing for Sourav Ganguly’s biopic. For that part, I need to lose weight, so I am between certain look tests and that’s how I showed up for the event. There is nothing to worry about. I am simply navigating two demanding biographical roles and hence, the change in my appearance is striking.”

The actor added, “For Bose, I went half bald. During Srikanth, I became the character even when cameras weren’t rolling. My focus is always on fully embodying the character I am playing.”

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On Monday morning, Rajkummar Rao put speculation to rest after his recent appearance sparked concern online. Taking to Instagram, the 41-year-old actor explained that the noticeable weight gain and altered hairline were part of his preparation for his upcoming biopic on Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam.

“It has demanded me to change physically, which I love doing. I’m not a believer in prosthetics as long as I can achieve the look through my hard work, be it gaining weight, looking old (to play a certain age) or to make my hair thin,” he wrote.

Rajkummar gained around 10 kg for the role: “I was eating two pizzas, a lot of sweets and my favourite aloo parathas, biryani, and not using anything glam to look like the part.”

The actor added that he is currently in the “transition phase”, losing the extra weight for a biopic on “our very own Dada”, former Indian cricket team skipper Sourav Ganguly.

Notably, this is not the first time Rajkummar has undergone an extreme physical transformation for his role. “Everyone told me not to go half bald for Bose: Dead Or Alive (2017), or not to stop eating and lose so much weight for Trapped (2017), or not to behave like a visually impaired person even when cameras weren’t rolling during Srikanth (2024),” he wrote, adding, “Hopefully, when you see Nikam, you will be able to see all that hard work... Will always work the hardest to engage you, entertain you through my work.”

Look at Pulkit’s short but impressive filmography, and it’s evident that the director is driven by hard-hitting stories. His pursuit was the same when making Maalik. “For me, the most challenging part was how not to make a simple action film. I wanted to tell a story that has action,” begins the director, recognising how many Hindi actioners rely on stunts rather than story.

But that has never been Pulkit’s modus operandi. For his first theatrical release, the director has reunited with Rajkummar Rao eight years after their web series, Bose: Dead/Alive (2017), to bring a gritty action entertainer about a common man who rises through the ranks to become a gangster in Allahabad. 

“Bhakshak [2024], Dedh Bigha Zameen [2024], and my upcoming film with Saif Ali Khan have all been based on real-life stories. This time, I wanted a break from reality,” he says.

While Rao attempted action before in Hit: The First Case (2022), Maalik is his first out-and-out actioner. Pulkit says that after Bose: Dead/Alive, he wanted an encore with the actor.

“Since the series, I was trying to work something out with Raj as he is an exciting actor to work with. While writing the story, I could only imagine him in the role. Raj immediately gave his nod as the film presents him in a completely different avatar. For an actor, it’s tough to step out of his comfort zone and jump into something so extreme. But Raj doesn’t get challenged easily. He prepares before he comes on sets.”

To play a feared gangster, Rao bulked up and underwent a transformation of sorts. The director shares, “Raj built his body, and grew his hair and beard for over 90 days. He is the kind of actor who will never wear a wig or fake beard. Wearing them makes an actor uncomfortable and restricts their performance. Besides the physical prep, the anger you see in his eyes started when we began our readings. Every time we met for readings, I could see the [mental] transformation taking place.”

Ask Pulkit if Rao had to train hard to pull off the stunts, and he surprises us with his answer. “He didn’t need to train at all. Few people know that Raj is a black belt in Taekwondo. So, action wasn’t tough for him. I don’t know why he hasn’t done it before.”

Besides Maalik, Pulkit has an investigative drama, titled Kartavya, in the pipeline. The gritty thriller has Saif Ali Khan playing a cop, with Sanjay Mishra and Rasika Dugal as co-stars.