For Patralekhaa, it’s a season of firsts — from turning producer with Toaster and embracing motherhood with daughter Parvati Paul Rao, to now headlining her first women-led film, Heer Sara Aur Pondicherry. “I was sold even before reading it,” she laughs. The actor says she was surprised to learn that the movie revolved around women and had no love angle.

While female actors get to play varied roles, Patralekhaa feels that “women are always portrayed as somebody’s something”. “Love seems to be the centre of our being, at least in movies. While we have so many shades, I don’t see that reflected quite often.” Stories centred on female friendships, she says, are even rarer. “Those parts are not written. In my 10-year-long career, there have only been a couple of films that have been female-oriented,” she shares.

Heer Sara Aur Pondicherry, which also stars Maanvi Gagroo, is a slice-of-life road-trip drama. At the heart of the film, Patralekhaa says, is the idea of women holding space for each other through life’s messier chapters.

“As you grow older, friendships change. Making friends [has become] harder now because your trust has been broken, you’ve seen life.”

So, Patralekhaa is using her production house Kampa Films to back stories with a soul and also give newcomers the opportunity that she and actor and husband Rajkummar Rao once received at the start of their careers.

“We want to make entertaining films that we like to watch. [And create opportunities for others]. Raj and I had no background. Somebody gave us that chance.”

However, her optimism dips when the conversation turns to pay parity and gender politics in the film industry. She admits that things are unlikely to change anytime soon. “Films are more hero-led. The priority is [still] to get that one hero and make the film around him.”

Patralekhaa, who gave birth to daughter Parvati Paul Rao on November 15 last year, says social media trolling made her realise how little people understand postpartum experiences.

“They don’t understand how abruptly a woman’s life shifts and changes. What we need is awareness,” she says, adding, “I feel happy when women actors go out and speak about it. Every small drop matters.”

Motherhood brings joy, but also relentless scrutiny — especially for female actors. After Patralekhaa was trolled for her post-pregnancy weight following her appearance at the screening of Toaster, fellow actor Swara Bhasker speaks out against the pressure women face to “bounce back” after childbirth.

Bhasker, who has dealt with online abuse for over two years since becoming a mother, fumes, “All mothers should be left the hell alone. Nobody knows what an individual mother’s journey is. I saw Patralekhaa’s post, messaged her, and shared her post. A month ago, the media was trolling Rihanna for it too. Do people know what Rihanna has achieved before they shoot their mouth off and talk rubbish? Even Aishwarya Rai [Bachchan] wasn’t spared.”

While actors like Alia Bhatt, Kiara Advani and Deepika Padukone returned to their pre-pregnancy physiques quickly, Bhasker stresses that “everybody’s body is not the same”.

“It’s bizarre that not only men, even women are trolling me. People don’t care if a man looks old. But if a woman stops looking desirable or glamorous in the way they feel actresses should, people get upset, forgetting that women have other feminine attributes too. Having a baby shifts your priorities in ways that are inexplicable, at least for me,” she says.

It’s barely been five months since he became a dad, and now, actor RajKummar Rao is already on his way to becoming ‘Dada’ — on screen, that is, by portraying former cricketer Sourav Ganguly in his biopic. The 41-year-old’s life, both personally and professionally, seems to be in a happy space. Adding to this phase is his debut as a producer with the recently released Toaster. He spoke candidly on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra. Excerpts:

It’s beautiful. Whenever somebody talks to me about Parvati, there’s a big smile on my face. A co-actor once asked me her name, and after I replied, he was like, “Have you noticed how our faces change when we talk about our kids?” So, I’d say everything has changed. Now, my motivation to do anything is how she’d feel about it, what kind of films she’d like to see. I just want to spend all my time with her. I took a five-month break after she was born, before going back to shoot for Dada. It was tough. I want to see her grow into this beautiful girl one day.

Yes. And softer in life. I’ve decided I’m going to cut down on work and try doing only two films a year. I am also being very careful about the kind of films I choose. I just want to push myself and make Parvati, along with my mother (Kamlesh Yadav) and my wife (actor-producer) Patralekhaa, proud.

Actor-couple Rajkummar Rao (41) and Patralekhaa (35) embraced parenthood on their fourth wedding anniversary, November 15, welcoming a baby girl into their family. The couple shared the happy news on Saturday in a joint Instagram post (inset), writing, “The greatest blessing God has given us on our 4th wedding anniversary.”

Friends and well-wishers from the film industry, including actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ali Fazal, Ayushmann Khurrana, Malaika Arora, Vijay Varma, and others, flooded the comments with love and congratulations.

Director Farah Khan also shared adorable pictures from their recent intimate baby shower, writing, “Congratulations! Enjoy this beautiful phase of life and remember, for any baby advice, main hoon na! P.S. @iamhumaq, thankfully we managed to have the baby shower just in time!”

Rajkummar and Patralekhaa, who tied the knot in 2021 after over a decade of dating, had announced their pregnancy in July with an adorable post featuring a drawing of a cradle and the words ‘Baby on the way,’ simply captioned, “Elated”.

In May, mid-day reported that Rajkummar Rao was set to begin work on his second production, a yet-untitled film that revolves around the Indian education system (School opens in June, May 12). Now, we’ve learnt that Tanya Maniktala, who broke out with Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy (2020), has been roped in for the drama, led by Rao and Keerthy Suresh.

Aditya Nimbalkar, who made his directorial debut with Sector 36 (2024), aims to take a hard look at India’s education system — its pressures, paradoxes, and the profit-driven approach — through his second feature. According to sources, Maniktala plays a woman who questions the rigidity of the academic system, its focus on minting money rather than shaping young minds, and the norms that define success and failure.

An insider reveals, “This character is the trigger to the story. Tanya was Aditya’s first choice for the role. He was impressed by her ability to portray vulnerability and strength, the qualities that are central to this story.”

While leads Rao and Suresh had begun shooting their parts in June, Maniktala is expected to join the unit in November. Another source shares, “Tanya has been reading and researching extensively for this role. She has a 30-day shoot lined up.”

Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa’s maiden production, ‘Toaster’, a comedy helmed by Vivek Das Chaudhary, is set to premiere on Netflix.

The film is directed by Aditya Nimbalkar, who previously helmed the gritty ‘Sector 36’ (2024), inspired by the 2006 Nithari killings.

Nearly four years into their marriage, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa announced their pregnancy with a social media post on July 9. At a recent event, we spoke to the couple about embracing parenthood and this new phase of their lives.

Expressing their excitement about this new chapter of their lives, Rajkummar and Patralekhaa says, “We’re really looking forward to becoming parents. It’s a natural progression and we are delighted.” 

The actress further says, “We have our two puppies, who are our babies, so the motherly instinct has already kicked in.”

Rajkummar adds, “I was ready whenever she was ready. So, one day we discussed that maybe now we should take that next step and extend our family. God’s been really kind.”

Patralekhaa, who was last seen in Phule, reveals that her mother is the one family member who is most excited about the pregnancy. “My mum is super thrilled! I loved her reaction. When we told her we are pregnant, she couldn’t believe it because at one point she had given up on us (laughs). I remember one day she said, ‘You guys don’t want to plan it... I am not going to ask you anymore,’” she says.

Reflecting on the responsibilities of parenthood, Rajkummar shares, “I’m very proud of my upbringing. My parents taught me honesty, kindness and compassion. And that’s something we would love to instil in our child as well.” Patralekhaa adds, “I’m sure Rajkummar will make a great father.”

The couple is the brand ambassador for Tourism New Zealand's latest campaign called #BeyondTheFilter. They recently enjoyed a quiet break in New Zealand. Talking about their love for travel, Patralekhaa says, “We knew about the pregnancy, so we avoided boat rides. I also chose not to do bungee jumping and skydiving, but had a lot of fun and have amazing memories from the trip.” 

Rajkummar, who will be seen in a mini-series along with his wife, highlighting the natural beauty and rich culture of New Zealand, added, “We are avid travellers and this trip was one of the most unforgettable adventures we’ve ever had.”

Production may be a new avenue for actor-couple Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa, but they are making swift progress. While their maiden production Toaster has yet to première on Netflix, the duo has set the stage for their second offering. mid-day has learnt that the yet-untitled film, starring National Award-winning actors Rao and Keerthy Suresh, will roll in Mumbai on June 1. Sources tell us that the story examines today’s education system and its profit-driven approach.

Through their banner, Rao and Patralekhaa are keen to bring largely untapped voices to the fore. This time around, they are said to have roped in director Aditya Nimbalkar, who recently helmed Sector 36 (2024).

A source reveals, “Their second production is a satirical take on today’s money-making education system. The story, in a humorous way, highlights how the field of education is all about business and profits rather than imparting knowledge and building the future of the country. The leads play educators, who blow the lid on the goings-on.”

While the project kicks off in Mumbai in June after Suresh wraps up her Tamil movie, Revolver Rita, it will be followed by a schedule in Delhi.

The source adds, “The makers intend to wrap it up over a straight 45-day shoot. Even as Rajkummar and Patralekhaa are learning the ropes as new producers, they are clear on the kind of projects they wish to back. They are looking for novel stories that go beyond entertainment and reflect on the current social issues.”

While he has set boundaries on screen over the years, Rajkummar did bare it all in his first film. “In LSD, I was butt naked in a scene. Of course, it wasn’t cleared by the censor board; it was blurred, but I was scared to do it,” he told India Today, adding, “I also knew that it was my first film and big break, and I couldn’t turn around and say that I’m not comfortable doing it. I didn’t know when I’d get my first film again.”

He was also glad about his parents’ reaction to it: “My mum said, ‘You’re an actor. If your role demands it, then go ahead and do it.’”

While Rajkummar was paid Rs. 11,000 for LSD, Nushrratt didn’t get any money for it. “I always wanted to work with (director) Dibakar Banerjee. When I watched Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), I said that I would work for free with Dibakar and that’s what happened. I didn’t get paid for the film, not a single penny,” she told Zee News in an interview.

LSD marked the entry of many new faces in Bollywood, including Rajkummar Rao. “For my first audition, I wore atrangi clothes, as per the brief. I was asked, ‘What are you wearing? Do you have anything else?’ I said, ‘No’. I was like, ‘S***, I’m gone, he doesn’t like it’,” the actor recalled on the podcast with Raj Shamani.

However, he got a call back and was asked to shed weight from his face. “In one week, I lost a lot of weight. I ran a lot,” he said. While his performance was loved, it left his now wife, actor Patralekhaa “creeped out”. After seeing LSD, she refused to do a music video with him.

Director Dibakar Banerjee had revealed that producer Ektaa R Kapoor was shocked after seeing the film for the first time. And interestingly, it wasn’t because of the content on voyeurism and free-for-all invasion of privacy, but due to the treatment and format of it. The film was shot in a digital format with a hand-held camera, and thus Ektaa asked Dibakar why the camera was shaking so much? She even doubted who will watch the film. Reportedly, the director shared that his producer initially didn’t believe that such an unusual and shocking film would be viable. She also got so paranoid after watching the film that after coming out of the theatre after watching the movie, she was looking for bugs and cameras everywhere around her.

A sequel to the film, LSD 2, was released last year, but it’s journey started on Bigg Boss 16. Ektaa went to the house to cast the female lead, actor Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia. But, she didn’t do the film. Dibakar had said during LSD 2 promotions that the casting on Bigg Boss was just a “PR stunt”.

Actor Patralekhaa, who marked her 35th birthday on Thursday in Shillong (Meghalaya), shares how good it felt to be home. “Being home always brings a sense of comfort and nostalgia, and this year feels even more meaningful because I get to share it with my loved ones in a place that has shaped so much of who I am,”she says.

Last year, the actor had one of her busiest years in Bollywood with Wild Wild Punjab and IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, and while she is grateful for that, she is looking forward with excitement to this year as she steps into a new role — that of a producer of an upcoming film titled Toaster.

Reflecting on this new journey with the production house which she co-founded with her husband, actor Rajkummar Rao, she shares, “Stepping into production is an organic extension of my love for storytelling. I wanted to create a space where inspiring stories could thrive. Raj and I have always been passionate about cinema, and through production we hope to champion stories we genuinely believe in,” and continues, “One of my motivations was to bring to life the kind of stories I want to see on screen.”

However, donning this new hat comes with its own set of challenges. “As an actor, you’re focused on your performance, but as a producer, you’re responsible for everything from script development to execution,” she says.

In her first production, Toaster, Patralekhaa did not step in as an actor. Instead, she cast Sanya Malhotra opposite Rajkummar. Ask her why and she responds, “I was very sure from the beginning that the first film that we will produce for our production house, I won’t act in it. I wanted to learn how production works, and Sanya is so talented that I am so glad I took this decision.”

But how is it like being a producer to her husband? “Raj and I have always had a great professional understanding, and this project only reinforced that. He has been incredibly supportive of my transition into production,” she ends.

At a time when the volume of content being churned out by the film industry often leads to a tussle for screens across India, releasing a small-budget offering alongside three big-budget productions may seem like a poorly calculated move. But April 11 is a date of significance for Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, given that it coincides with the 197th birth anniversary of social activist Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, on whom his film, Phule, is based.

Mahadevan acknowledges that releasing the movie merely a day after mammoth productions like Prabhas’s The Raja Saab, Yash’s Toxic, and Akshay Kumar’s Jolly LLB 3 hit the theatres may seem daunting for a filmmaker, but he is certain that the Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa-starrer will catch the attention of the audience he intends to target.

“April 11 is a milestone; a date to celebrate. It is relevant for us to release the film on that day, regardless of which other film is also released. Our date is finalised. In March, we will begin promoting Phule, and ensure that people belonging to each corner of India know what the film is about. I have shot at actual locations, like at a wada [fortress] in Bhor, Kolhapur, and Satara. I did not shoot on a set because my producers, Ritesh and Anuya Kudecha, insisted that the film be made as authentically as possible,” says Mahadevan.

Celebrating the socialists, Phule, and his wife Savitribai (played by Patralekhaa) for their innumerable contributions to society, Mahadevan calls the former the “Abraham Lincoln of India.”

“When Jyotirao learnt that Lincoln abolished slavery in America, he was deeply inspired. He was fighting a battle on two fronts—against the British, and [against society]. The fight was to dispel practices like gender and caste discrimination and promote the education of the girl child. Today if women have an opinion, are educated, and are taken seriously, [it is because of them]. Savitribai and Fatima Sheikh [Indian educator] were the first female teachers in India.”

Ask him if he considered casting Rajkummar Rao as the film’s leading man to have the husband-and-wife duo Rao and Patralekhaa reprise the relationship on screen, and he responds in the negative. “Pratik is an effortless actor,” he backs his leading man.

“He is a chameleon, and we can all just marvel at him. He works hard on each role, but that effort isn’t made obvious on the screen, and that is what acting is all about. Of course, Rajkummar is very accomplished, and I could have approached him via Patralekhaa, but when I saw Pratik and Patralekhaa together, I felt the real characters had come alive.”

In an industry that’s known to be tumultuous, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa have been each other’s rock-solid support. In an exclusive interview with us, Raj and Patra, who celebrated their third wedding anniversary last month, speak about navigating ups and downs in the competitive world of movies, and how their personal losses have changed their outlook towards life. Read on...

Patra: When you are not doing well, you hustle but when your partner or sibling isn’t doing well, that makes it more difficult. You feel you can’t do anything about it. That was Raj’s journey with me. Raj was seeing success after success, and he would never talk about it, but I knew that my journey pained him a bit. Recognition for me has come in bits and pieces. It’s always good to get that validation. After Citylights (2014), mujhe itna saara pyaar mila for IC 814, which released this year. It took me 10 years!

Raj: She is extremely talented. I am not saying this because she is my partner, but I am inspired by her as an actor. I don’t know why she didn’t get enough deserving work after Citylights. I’m there for her, but acting is a personal lonely process. People can be around, but only you have to deal with your struggles. She had to fight it out herself. We follow this practice where she reads my reviews, and I read hers. When I started reading comments like how she was the show stealer in the series, I kept sending her the screenshots proudly.

Patra: Raj is my best friend, we grew up together. Initially, we were stuck at the hip. We did everything together. He then got busy with his shoots. I still remember, when he would watch some film or series without me, I would ask him, ‘Why did you do that? That’s cheating!’ I soon realized that this will be our normal. He’s the most down to earth person I know. Even after finding success, he’s the most basic guy. I used to think movie stars are supposed to be a certain way, he’s anything but that. Sometimes, I feel people take advantage of his simplicity, but I feel he’s aware of that and allows it. He likes to be at peace. If his call time is 5 am, he wakes up at 2.30 am, does his pooja, meditates and then leaves. Whether he gets to sleep for 45 mins or 2 hours, he won’t miss his schedule. He carries his late parents’ photo and my late father’s photo along with his little mandir wherever he goes.

Raj: We are who we are because of our blessings. I can’t change myself. That’s too much of an effort. When I joined the industry, I didn’t get a memo that you need to be a certain way. Your work is all that matters. My mother was extremely spiritual and religious so that grew on me. She would get up at 4 am in Gurgaon and bhajans would play in the house. I started inclining towards it. It helps me keep calm and reminds me who I am. Nobody.

Raj: I have got more clarity in life after enduring this pain. I lost my parents, Patra’s dad is no more, and we lost Gaga recently. Having seen death so closely, I have realized you don’t need to take life so seriously. You don’t need to constantly plan and be sure of your future. Live your life and do good karma. When death comes knocking, all the things that you stress about, won’t even matter. If Stree 2 does well, I am happy, but I don’t take success or failure to heart anymore. Everything is just a phase, and the show must go on.

Patra: I saw my dad working hard for the last 35 years of his life. He would work for 14-15 hours a day. He had gone for work to Shimla where he had a stroke. Whoever checked him didn’t know what it was. By the time I reached the hospital, he had passed away. There were no doctors around. He was just lying there. Before this incident, I used to be unhappy about why things weren’t going my way career wise, why work isn’t happening, etc. When I saw him there, I realized, work is just a part of your life, not your whole life. Your work doesn’t decide your worth. That was my biggest learning from the death I saw so closely. With Gaga, she was our anchor. For the seven years that she was with us, she taught us so many things. It may sound strange to some but losing a pet is as painful as losing a parent. With grief, you just have to go through it. You can’t snowboard into work. There’s no escape from it.

Patra: Even OTT needs viewership that must transition to subscription. Following this pattern hasn’t left the process democratic anymore. Initially, it was a lot better. Today, an actor is known by his social media following. Chances of you bagging a role are stronger if you are popular on social media.

Raj: I don’t get this logic. I have heard this myself ki, ‘Iske itne saare followers hai toh isko film mein lenge toh it will help the film’. Being an actor and a social media star are two very different things. How much following you have on social media says nothing about your acting skill. If actors were to be judged based on their social media following, Kim Kardashian should have been the biggest Hollywood star. Ranbir Kapoor is not even on social media, and he is a solid actor! It doesn’t matter if you are trained or not, what matters is whether you are talented. An actor must be deserving of the time an audience invests in them.

Raj: Nobody forces you to do it. Films are a visual medium, so if you want to look nice, why not? To each his own. I only see this happening here. When I was promoting my film Srikanth, people would do my interview and only this portion (chin question) would get highlighted. As if koi aur baat hi nahi hai karne ke liye. You think Brad Pitt looks this way at 60 without doing anything to his face? It’s about taking care of yourself. Our face is our tool as actors. This is what we sell, and we must take care of it. It has to go for servicing and fixing from time to time. You should do whatever gives you confidence and makes you happy.

Patra: If something is making you happy, why not? It’s very subjective. If a line or a wrinkle is bothering you and you want to get Botox done, it’s fine. If you want to lose or gain weight, you do that. It’s easy for people to sit around and pass comments that isnay yeh kyu kara, woh kyu karwaya? But it takes a lot of confidence to stand in front of the camera knowing crores of people will be watching and scrutinising you.

In a 14-year career, Rajkummar Rao has established himself as one of the finest actors of the current crop. Now, he is keen to extend his love for cinema beyond acting. We’ve heard the actor, along with actor-wife Patralekhaa, is turning producer with a yet-untitled film that will be helmed by Vivek Daschaudhary, who served as an assistant director on Guns & Gulaabs (2023). If things go as planned, the Rao-led project will go on floors in January 2025.

While he was toying with the idea of production for some time, the phenomenal success of Stree 2 cemented his decision. An insider shared, “Raj has been passionate about exploring different dimensions of filmmaking. It was Patralekhaa’s idea that they graduate to production, and after Stree 2’s smashing success, he felt it was the perfect time to dive in.”

It’s interesting that for their maiden production, Rao and Patralekhaa are backing the vision of Daschaudhary, who will foray into feature films with the project. It turns out the director’s fresh cinematic approach resonated with the couple, who want to bet on novel stories and new voices. 

Another source working on the film told us, “It’s an unconventional drama. Raj and Vivek both have a deep respect for meaningful stories and want to bring such narratives to the fore. While Raj and Patralekhaa have multiple productions in the works right now, this will be the first to roll in January. It’s a direct-to-web film for Netflix.”

Braving the downpour, Stree 2 stars Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor recently brightened up HT’s New Delhi office with their infectious energy. At HT City’s Stars in the City event, the duo had a lively chat with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor (Entertainment and Lifestyle), Hindustan Times. During the conversation, Rao candidly shared a boundary in his acting career: “It would be very hard for me to slap a girl in a scene. I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

When asked if he would have taken on a role like Kabir Singh, Rao responded thoughtfully, “Maybe, but I would have had a lot of discussions with my director about that scene. Unless it’s something integral, like breathing for the character, I would get into a big debate with my director.”

The 2019 film, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, was a box-office success, but it also drew significant controversy. Actor Shahid Kapoor’s portrayal of the titular character, criticized for his violent and toxic behaviour towards his love interest, Preeti, sparked much debate. Rao made it clear that the infamous slap scene was a line he wouldn’t cross.

Shraddha Kapoor was all smiles as she engaged with the winners of the HT City’s Stars in the City contest, answering everything from her upcoming projects, music to the big question — marriage. 

Initially sidestepping the topic, she shared, “I am so lucky to receive so much love everywhere — it’s a huge blessing. I don’t know where it comes from, but it’s very humbling. There’s a special connection I have with my fans. Little girls hug me, calling me their ‘big sister,’ and even elderly people tell me I exude positive energy. I just want to say thank you!”

But Kapoor didn’t leave it at that. Addressing the marriage question directly, she added, “As far as marriage goes, I absolutely believe in fairytale love — that’s what I imagine. Whenever that happens for me, I would love to take it to the next level and get married.”

Kapoor, who has always been mum about her personal life, has recently been in the news for a breakup with scriptwriter Rahul Mody, who wrote the 2023 rom-com Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, starring her. Fans speculated that the actor not only unfollowed Mody, but also stopped following his sister, the production house and his dog on social media.

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This year, Patralekhaa clocks in 10 years in Bollywood. The actress, who made her debut opposite her now-husband Rajkummar Rao in Hansal Mehta’s Citylights (2014), believes that her journey has just begun. “It has taken me 10 years to be like a fully working actor and not work for only four-five days in a year and then sit, wait, and pray to get more work,” says the Wild Wild Punjab actress.

In a conversation with us, Patralekhaa talks about her journey, not having any regrets and how lucky marriage has been for her.

Reflecting on her journey, Patralekhaa says, “10 years is a very long time. I was new to Mumbai. My friends and family did not hail from the film industry. My only point of contact was Raj (Rajkummar Rao), who I have been dating since then. But Raj’s career has been on a different path, and I don’t think I resonate with that path. Of course, he understood what I was going through, but he was really busy. He was always there, pacifying me. I went through different phases. I started painting. I had to understand what to do to make it work. At the end of it, nothing is in your hands, no matter how hard you work. If it is meant to be, it will be yours. I was very clear that I am going to work so hard that even if I fail, I wouldn’t have any regrets.”

Living with a successful actor who has only grown from strength to strength, did it ever make her question her own journey? “Initially, I would wonder, ‘Arre, even I got appreciated for this project then why did I not get similar results?’ It felt weird initially, but then you know that your life is different and you cannot compare your life with anyone else’s. I never resonated with Raj’s journey, and I am sure he doesn’t resonate with mine. I was doing whatever was being offered to me. Raj never had to reach out to people for work. His films worked, and it did all the talking. I can’t compare myself with him.”

Patralekhaa says that she is excited about the current phase in her career, which has her doing a variety of roles. Among her upcoming projects are a comedy with Varun Sharma and the series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack starring Vijay Varma and Phule with Pratik Gandhi.

“In the traditional medium, I have had filmmakers telling me that you are such a good actor, but we really don’t know where to place you,” says Patralekhaa, who believes that the OTT space offered her more scope to perform, which in turn got her more film offers.

She adds, “I’ve been the busiest since I got married (in November 2021). Which is why I feel that I should have gotten married earlier (laughs),” she says.

The actress is grateful for everything that she has got in her 10-year journey, “I have made some amazing friends here. I found my husband in this industry and city. This industry has given me a lot… it has been a package of failure and success. So, I am really content. Failure doesn’t bog me down. In fact, it has taught me patience and perseverance, and pushed me to keep working hard.”

Patralekhaa has been a part of the industry for 10 years now and feels it’s going to be her year, as “it’s the product of seven years of hard work”. The actor is looking forward to four projects including films Phule, IC814: The Kandahar Hijack, Wild Wild Punjab and web series Gulkanda Tales. Calling it “one of the busiest phases” in her career, she adds, “I have been working hard to reach this stage. It required a lot of patience and perseverance.”

The 34-year-old, who has been a part of films like Love Games (2016), Nanu Ki Jaanu (2018) and Badnaam Gali (2019), credits OTT for getting her interesting opportunities. Web shows like Bose: Dead/Alive, Main Hero Boll Raha Hu and Aar Ya Paar got her recognition for her acting skills.

“I am glad with OTT, there’s varied content and diverse roles. When I met directors, they told me to try getting work on OTT. (Filmmakers) Raj and DK were the first ones who got me on board for Gulkanda Tales,” she says, adding, she’s been working non-stop for the last two years.

Patralekhaa admits the lack of offers used to bother her initially: “I had nobody to lean on in the film industry. But I caught up. That’s what patience and perseverance brings to the table.” Her professional life rose post her wedding to actor Rajkummar Rao. She quips, “I feel I should’ve got married much earlier.”

There was a time when female actors’ marital status dictated the number of offers they got. Patralekhaa credits a change in that to her fellow actors: “Kareena (Kapoor Khan), Deepika (Padukone) and Anushka (Sharma) have broken the norms. I don’t think marriage is seen as a hindrance anymore.”

It comes as no surprise that Farah Khan does her own social media—shooting, editing, setting it to music and staying away from trends. They are mini creativity shots, the most fun you can have with Khan without being in her inner circle that comprises a gamut of constellations: There’s, of course, Karan Johar, SRK, Anil Kapoor, etc; Her work crew at Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Malaika Arora, Arshad Warsi; production department HODs, hovering over tubs of aforementioned pulao or chicken, eating together on Mondays; The younger lot, like Ananya Pandey, whom she has seen grow up and been fast friends with their parents; The “alternate universe” that Johar calls her coterie of Patralekhaa, Rajkummar Rao and Huma Qureshi; and then the bunch that has been playing Articulate together for 20 years (“We make our own cards now; we ran out of all the provided ones 15 years ago”), which includes Malaika, Arvind and Tanya Dubash, Farhad Taraporewala, Shweta Bachchan, Rahul Bose, Kajal Anand and a bunch of rotating cast (“‘Aye, bring someone with you no’ we tell each other when we get bored …”).The last lot there are no pictures of, except for the one that the winner takes for bragging rights.

So, all her life is not on her Instagram, and certainly not selfies taken in special clothes. “I first consider what is entertaining,” says Khan, in the expanse of her joyously appointed—and inhabited—living room.

“I find it boring taking pictures of myself.  People spend lakhs of rupees [to hire a hair and make-up person, a stylist, a photographer] on one evening, go to a party to just take pictures, and then they have to upload them immediately—after they edit them and apply filters. ‘But when did you have fun?’ I want to ask them.”

We’re talking about her social media game, which is top notch. Take for instance, her banter with bestie Karan. “They should just give us a show; we’re putting it out in the universe,” she interjects. “We don’t practice anything, we just start—he’s truly witty and doesn’t mind being made fun of. That thing I said, ‘First you couldn’t get out of the closet, now you can’t go back in...’ has gone viral.”

She was introduced to Reels by bestie Sania Mirza and her sister. “Now she has stopped making them,” she says with the slight accusation we reserve for best friends who dare live away from us. “We used to first make them on the trending song, move, etc… but I found it boring.”

Now she thinks up her own content, spending no more than an hour a day on social media cumulatively. So much of her resonates—especially the ones on set—with work besties/spouses in every office. The threat to return her dabbas, banter with colleagues and a lot she gets away with by way of being close to so many generations and types of actors and filmmakers through her decades as a choreographer and director (Main Hoon Na just completed 20 years).

“I only make reels with people I can banter with,” she says, “who have the same sense of humour. And I always ask before posting. If I get a social media team, then it will stop being fun. I want to do it when I feel like; I don’t want to have to post once a day to feed the beast. Now I get requests to do reels together.”

Her food content has her in talks for a YouTube show. “I said 12 episodes of me in the kitchen, cooking with my cook or a friend; I know my cook will become a star after that, and leave me to go work for Shah Rukh. Or me with Mr Faizu [content creator Faisal Shaikh] going through Bhendi Bazaar on Eid.”

One of the reasons she would not have a social media team is because her phone is her sixth organ, attached to her body. “Firstly, I won’t be able to call my children or my driver or anyone. I only remember Shirish’s [husband, filmmaker Kunder] number. Secondly, if my chats get leaked, I will have to go into exile. My daughter has the habit of going through my phone; I tell her I’ll do the same when she has boyfriends. So ya, nobody is going to handle my phone.”

And yet people have taken it saying, “You are not following me?”, and hit the Follow button for her. “Then I mute them; you can’t unfollow them. Half the people I follow, I have muted.”

A cursory glance at her handle shows 4.1 million followers and that she’s following 96. And more than peers, she likes accounts that inform her how things work, like the Hoover Dam. And she reads every comment, and likes them personally too, stopping just to block the mean ones.

“If they are funny, I don’t mind. The most common ones are ‘Sajid in a wig’, which I don’t find funny anymore because I am much thinner than him.”

For the same reason, she finds spoofs of her, like those by comedienne Jamie Lever, funny. “I love Jamie! I’ve told her she needs to pay royalties because now she’s doing spoofs of my Reels.”  

And she’s candid enough to admit that fame online opens up new venues of revenue. This is not surprising from a person who admits that great trauma has given the entire family a dark sense of humour.

“My entire family is so dysfunctional and it works for us; we’ve seen such hard times—my mother and all my aunts were child artistes; they were gravely exploited. My father, no matter if he was an alcoholic and down in the dumps, his sense of humour was intact: Sarcastic and cutting, which is where I get it from. My mother has a no-filter sense of humour. As a family, we have hid behind pews and laughed at funerals—like my grandmother’s, who converted to become a Born Again Christian and was buried. That’s what I tell my children—Sorry, I have not given you any dysfunction; I don’t know how you will have any fun…”

Almost two years after actor-director Ananth Mahadevan announced Phule, the Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa-starrer is complete, save for post-production. The director is feeling a wave of pride and relief knowing that he has pulled off what he considers his most ambitious film.

Talking about the biopic on social activist Jyotirao Phule, he shares, “Phule is my biggest film to date. The best part was that we hunted down locations in the Maharashtra belt that existed during their time, the 1860s. So, we didn’t have to create artificial sets. After Pratik and Patralekhaa got into their costumes, they looked exactly like those portraits that we’ve seen of Jyotirao and Savitribai.” 

Phule will trace the lives of the social reformer and his wife Savitribai, who together fought against casteism, gender discrimination and championed women’s education. Casting his Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) co-actor Gandhi was an easy choice for Mahadevan, given his “effortless performance”.

“Even as a person, Pratik is simple, grounded and works hard on his role. I like his and Patralekhaa’s dedication to their craft. I gave my actors their characters’ backstory. But [adopting] the body language and attitude of people of the 1860s in British India was tough for them. The body language of some actors, who play kings and queens [in period dramas], look as if they have just come from the gym. You cannot have modern mannerisms. So, we worked hard on [attaining] the right body language.” 

The team is now gearing up for an April release. “My producers Ritesh, Pranay and Suunil Jain are planning to release it on April 11, which is Jyotiba’s birth anniversary.”

Patralekhaa is gearing up to play social reformer, educationalist and poet Savitribai Phule in her next, Phule. “I am super nervous,” says the actor, who admits the prep to play someone of this stature has been challenging — more so because there is no footage or frame of reference available to help her get into the skin of the character.

“We don’t know what her demeanour was like,” Patralekhaa tells us, adding, “It’s just her poetry and what she’s left behind that we have [to understand her]. But, Savitribai’s writing is a window to her mind and mental state. I believe that’s better than any material.” In the absence of reference material, she asserts she is going to play Savitribai “like I think she would have been, like I would perceive her”.

Besides the Citylights (2014) actor, the Ananth Narayan Mahadevan directorial also stars Pratik Gandhi — as social reformer Jyotirao Phule. Is she apprehensive at all, about how the audience would react to such icons being recreated on the big screen?

“I don’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments with the way I interpret anything. It would never be intentional. The rest, I leave to God,” Patralekhaa asserts.

“She (Savitribai) is such an inspirational character. I don’t know if I will be able to do justice to her. But, the clarity my director has and the talent that Pratik possesses pacify me a little. It feels like I am in good hands,” she wraps up.

Most actors would be worried about audience forgetting them if they’re away from the screen for long. But not Patralekhaa, who isn’t bothered about no releases in 2022.

“Whether the viewers have forgotten me or not is not my concern. I believe in continuing to do work that makes me happy. If it is good when it comes out, it will undoubtedly strike a chord with the audience,” the Citylights (2014)actor shares.

She adds, “I work for myself; to feel happy and satisfied with what I am putting out there. So largely, I feel it is more about me. Apart from that, how and what people perceive about me is really not in my hand. That’s why it does not affect me so much.”

She is thankful for living in the age of social media, as it helps her stay relevant, no matter which part of the world she is in. “Today, you are truly alive if you are on a social media platform. I feel the reach of these apps is so vast, that if you put up a picture, it brings you back in the game. It does not let the audience forget you,” she tells us.

Patralekhaa doesn’t feel that being away from the screen will translate into a dearth of work, because the industry is a close-knit unit. “Everybody knows who is being cast for what, our industry is pretty close-knit that way. So, I am not apprehensive because I do not have to go out and ask for work. They already know what’s coming and what I am working on. And these are the people who are going to give me work,” she concludes.

Patralekhaa calls 2022 “a twister” as we approach the end. “It has been an amalgamation of so many things — moving on from dad’s death, starting a new journey with Raj (actor Rajkummar Rao) and being in a really great phase in my career,” says the actor. Talking about her father’s unexpected death in April, she shares, “He had travelled to Shimla for some work where he suffered a haemorrhage. My family and I could not make it in time. So many things were left unsaid, and those will always linger in my mind. I’m still trying to come to terms with it all. All I do is sit quietly; sometimes I talk to my mother, sister, or Raj about it.” 

Six months after her father died, the Citylights (2014) actor married her co-star from the same film, actor and long-time partner, Rao. “We could have done the wedding after a year or so, but my mother did not want to postpone it. She said that my father would have been the happiest to see me getting married. So we went ahead. Also, postponing it wouldn’t have lessened the grief.”

On the work front, Patralekhaa has four projects set for release next year: “All in all, I am enjoying this phase in my career as I am getting opportunities to play versatile roles; in completely different kinds of projects, thanks to OTT,” she ends.