The Coronavirus pandemic having meddled with her exam schedule, Hundred actor Rinku Rajguru, expresses concern about her education
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; May 17, 2020)

Tucked away in her hometown, Solapur's Akluj, amid the lockdown, Sairat star Rinku Rajguru is worried about her education. "There were rumours about [our exams] being pushed. We were on tenterhooks. Now, we have been told that they won't be conducted. There is concern about what will happen when the new term begins," says the first-year student of an arts degree course [from Akluj].

A series of regional offerings followed her 2016 hit, Rajguru is now back in Nagraj Manjule's fold with Jhund, which has her share screen space with Amitabh Bachchan. But, even an outing with the megastar won't dissuade the daughter of two teachers from completing her education. "My parents insist that I complete my studies. So, I can't pursue acting at the cost of academics," says Rajguru, who became a sensation with Sairat, only to go back and give her SSC and HSC exams.

More recently, Rajguru featured in the Lara Dutta-starrer web series, Hundred, in a role that director Ruchi Narain tailor-made for her. "I play a Marathi mulgi, who is full of life. She is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, but that doesn't stop her from doing what she wants to do." Shot across Mumbai, the series also gave her a chance to discover the city.

Talking about the emotional turmoil of a cop in Hundred, Lara Dutta on why she picked the web show for her comeback
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; May 3, 2020)

Last seen in Welcome To New York (2018), Lara Dutta Bhupathi is back on the scene with the web series, Hundred, which marks her digital debut. "It just fell into place. I wasn't actively looking for anything. I thought it would be interesting to be part of the web culture."

The offer landed in her lap rather suddenly. "Though I have known Ruchi [director Narain] for years, we never spoke about working together. I always wanted to be directed by a woman. I like her work, so, I thought I'd give it a shot when she made the offer."

At odds with the roles she has played in Bollywood till date, her character in Hundred was age-appropriate. Dutta's Soumya Shukla is a cop, a part she has never played before. "The experience was educational. I needed to get the body language and nuances on point. I even met a couple of women DCPs to get a better insight."

Digging deep into her character, Dutta says she hasn't explored a role that is as layered as this one. "[She is] ambitious, unapologetic and frustrated, and also faces issues in her marital life. There were so many aspects to her persona that intrigued me."

What also drew her to the show was co-star Rinku Rajguru, best remembered for Sairaat (2016). "We are generations apart. I thought we would make for an interesting combo. We come from different worlds."

Shooting for the Hotstar web series in different locations of Mumbai was an eye-opener. "Despite living in Mumbai for 25 years, I didn't realise how much more there is to the city. I got to see the gritty underbelly as we shot in real locations."

Despite hubby, tennis champ Mahesh Bhupathi, being her sounding board, she refers to daughter Saira as her biggest critic. "She is excited to see me on screen, but also keeps critiquing."

Preeti Atulkar (BOMBAY TIMES; May 30, 2019)

Rinku Rajguru, who became an overnight sensation with her debut film Sairat, has scored 82 per cent in Maharashtra State HSC examination. Needless to say, the National Award-winning actress, who had scored 66 per cent class 10, is on cloud nine.

Speaking to us an elated Rinku says, “I was confident that I will score above 75 per cent. When I learnt that I have scored 82 per cent I was quite surprised.” Ask her how she has managed to juggle the studies and work and she says, “I finished shooting for Kaagar last February so I had ample time to study. And post Diwali, I focused only on revision. I’m glad that I fared well in the board exams.”

Rinku, who initially wanted to be a doctor, now wishes to continue her career in the showbiz. “Now I’m an Arts student, and I will sit with my parents to discuss what subjects to choose and which college to join. I must add that I have always given importance to studies and I will finish my graduation,” she says.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Rinku is currently shooting for a Marathi film Makeup directed by Ganesh Pandit. She adds, “The shoot of the film is in its last leg. Unlike my previous films, in my next outing, I’m playing a modern urban girl who speaks her mind. Also, I will soon announce my fourth film, which is based on acid attacks.” Quiz her if she is playing an acid attack survivor and she replies, “I won’t be able to speak much on that at this juncture but I shall reveal the details very soon.”

She is also set to make her Bollywood debut with Nagraj Manjule’s Jhund that stars Amitabh Bachchan in the lead.
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Rinku has really made us proud, says dad

Vinita Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 30, 2019)

Sairat girl Rinku Rajguru has scored very good marks in the 12th Maharashra state board examination, getting an aggregate of 533 out of 650. The results were declared on Tuesday and Rinku had appeared for these as an external candidate. In a telephonic interview, her dad Mahadev Bapu Rajguru, a primary school teacher at Akluj, shared, “Rinku has really made us proud by scoring 82 per cent as an arts student. She managed to balance her studies and film assignments as she had promised us. I wish she was here with us; but she is busy shooting for her next film Makeup in Belgaum today. However, celebrations are going on at home. Her mother has bought kilos of pedas, but we are missing her.”

Discussing his daughter’s plans ahead, Rinku's dad said, “If a college management agrees to a flexible arrangement of attendance for her, she will enrol as a regular student, else she will continue her BA as an external student. But all that can be decided later; right now we want to celebrate our daughter’s academic success. I’m glad that my son Siddharth who is 13, will look at his sister for inspiration.”

The Sairat sensation makes a comeback with her second Marathi film — and a determination to make a mark in the movies
Suktara Ghosh (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 21, 2019)

She became an overnight sensation as the fearless firebrand Archi in her debut film in 2016. Now, Sairat actress Rinku Rajguru is returning to the screen with her second Marathi film, Kaagar (Tipping Point) after a hiatus of three years. It’s easily one of the most-awaited films this year, with critics, fans, and the box office eagerly waiting to see if the 17-year-old can recreate the magic on screen.

“I was getting many offers but I didn’t want to play another Archi,” says Rajguru, who took a break to appear for her HSC examinations (“It went very well,” she nods enthusiastically). Kaagar, directed by Ringan maker and National Award-winner Makarand Mane — and co-starring Shashank Shende and Shubhankar Tawde — is a political drama set in small-town Maharashtra, and is set to release on April 26. Rajguru plays Rani, a girl who steps out of the confines of her home to join the world of politics.

“I have lived Rani’s life. I am from a village too [from Akluj in Solapur]. There, girls have many dreams and talents, but their lives are trapped within four walls. Every household has its own politics, and the lives of the women are governed by innumerable rules — you can’t go out without a dupatta; you must cover up; you have to return home within a stipulated time and can’t talk to boys — the list goes on. Rani comes from this background and wants to do something for these girls,” shares the National Award-winner while on a lightning tour of Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Aurangabad and Kolhapur, to promote the film.

Rajguru has had a similar transformation herself. After the tremendous success of Sairat — it was the first Marathi film to earn Rs 100 crore and created enough waves for Bollywood to sit up and take notice with the remake, Dhadak — life is not the same.

“Going out is a problem because everyone recognises me now. Once I went out with my face covered with a dupatta, and people recognised me from my eyes. They asked if I am Archi, I said ‘no’. They said ‘your eyes are like Archi’s’, and I said, ‘accha?’ and thanked them,” she laughs. “But I really enjoy it. This is a new life, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Rajguru for all her youthful exuberance and confidence, seems to have a steady head on her shoulders. “I feel films should have some message to take back home, and be realistic — something the audience can relate to. And I don’t like films which revolve around brawny heroes who are saving the world all the time. I’m looking for characters that can inspire girls in villages and small towns to step out and achieve their dreams,” she says. Coming up after Kaagar is a film revolving around acid attack victims. Tight-lipped, Rinku denies any similarity with the much-talked about Chhapaak, starring Deepika Padukone. “Ours is a fictional story”, is all she says.

Taking inspiration from the exposure her stardom has brought, Rajguru says: “When I am here in the city, in Mumbai, I see women can go anywhere, do anything, own their own homes. This doesn’t happen in villages.” And then adds with a smile, “My village is now very proud of me.”

Playing her Kaagar role didn’t, however, come easy. “I don’t understand politics at all. I say whatever I feel like, I am very bindaas. Rani, on the other hand, thinks carefully before doing anything and knows exactly what she wants. So this was difficult for me. I studied our women in politics — observed how they sit, how they talk, and the issues they deal with. We also did workshops, which helped me bond with my co-actors, and that translated well on screen,” she says.

The Vicky Kaushal and Sridevi fan has shed quite a few kilos in the last three years and blossomed into a self-assured person. Bollywood offers have been coming her way too, but Rajguru, who once nursed dreams of becoming a doctor, is only up for meaty roles. Quiz her about feeling the pressure that comes with being in showbiz and she says, “I don’t take it as pressure. If you want to be an actor, you have to look good too. So it’s alright.” She also enjoys being the youngest on the sets. “Everyone gives me a lot of love — and chocolates,” she laughs.

Unlike her fellow Gen-Z compatriots, Rajguru largely steers clear of social media. “I only promote my films there; it’s great to see the energy of the fans. But I don’t like to use social media otherwise,” she says. Hand-picked by Sairat-director Nagraj Manjule when she didn’t even know what ‘audition’ meant, Rajguru’s journey is certainly the stuff movies are made of.

MUMBAI MIRROR (February 22, 2019)

When National Award-winning actress Prerana aka Rinku M Rajguru from Sairat stepped out to write her first HSC exam paper on Thursday, virtually the whole state wished her “all the best”. She arrived at the Tuljabhavani College of Arts and Commerce in her home village, Tembhurni, with her parents shortly before noon. Fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite heroine and cheered, “Do well”, “We pray for you” as she stepped out of the car and walked quickly in. A police posse requested by college authorities ensured her uneventful entry into the campus, which will be her exam centre for the next fortnight.

An external Arts faculty student, she will be appearing for papers in English, Marathi, Political Science, Economics, History and Geography. In 2017, Rinku had cleared her SSC exams with 66.40 per cent marks, two years after here acting debut. She wanted to beocme a doctor but ended up becoming a star at 14 and had to quit school, appearing for both exams as an external student.

A chance meeting with National Award-winning director Nagraj Manjule resulted in the role of Aarchi in Sairat, which set a new benchmark for regional films. The film has already been made in Hindi, Bengali, Odiya, Kannada and Punjabi besides being dubbed in several languages. Rinku’s next screen turn is in the Marathi film Kagar, due to release shortly.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; July 7, 2018)

Janhvi, who is Boney Kapoor and the late Sridevi’s daughter, has shot into the limelight even before the release of her debut film, Dhadak. The 21-year-old has been closely followed by the shutterbugs and is quite popular on social media.

However, the ultimate test for her will be when her launch pad, which is produced by Zee Studios and Dharma Productions, opens in cinemas on July 20. Contrary to popular perception that she is quiet and reserved, the lissome lass tells us, “I’m animated and dramatic all the time.” Over the next 30 minutes, she tells us why her mother wasn’t too happy with her career choice and how Dhadak (an adaptation of the Marathi blockbuster Sairat) finally came her way. Excerpts…

Were you nervous before the trailer was launched?
When we were shooting the film, we were removed from all this. Ishaan and I never shot thinking, ‘Iss scene ka kya reception hoga, whether people will like it,’ etc. We were just the characters. I loved it because it was away from all this noise — the good, the bad and everything. When it came to the trailer launch, we were still soaking in the same feeling. Of course, there was so much positive energy that all of us were hoping for the best. It was only when I saw the promo that I realised we were finally letting it out to the world to judge. That’s when I got nervous. So, I was trembling during the trailer launch.

Did you always want to be an actress?
When I was a kid, I used to make up stories in my head and play characters. I loved entertaining people. I remember, in school, I would be animated and crack jokes. Also, movies have had a huge influence on my life. I’ve always been passionate about cinema. However, I wanted to explore other avenues like writing and study history. I thought I’d do all these courses, but when I started with an acting course, I realised this was my calling (smiles).

Who was the first person you confided in after you had made this decision?
I told my mom and she said, ‘Please reconsider your decision’. She always felt that I am too naive. Mom and dad are very protective of me. They didn’t think I was equipped to deal with the non-creative aspect of filmmaking. Mom wasn’t too happy. She felt she had worked so hard to give her children an easy life. But I didn’t want that, I wanted a fulfilling one. I aspired to have that creative expression, that experience in real life with the struggles. I am very thankful for everything I have, but I am hungry to experience more than whatever has been given to me.

Then, how did you convince her?
It didn’t take a lot of convincing because they knew I was serious about it. They just told me that acting doesn’t mean looking pretty and reading the lines. I knew that, so I wanted to do it. I have lived a wonderful life because of what my parents have given me, but at the same time, it’s been relatively sheltered. I’ve been protected all my life and I don’t know if it was because of who my parents were or the kind of people they were. Acting gives me the ability to experience different lives and expose myself to so many feelings. That’s why I wanted to pursue it because this was my one-way ticket to do everything.

So, how did Dhadak happen?
Karan (Johar) had come home after Manish Malhotra suggested he should meet me. Manish was the first person who thought I was capable of becoming an actor. Even before I could think of it, he asked me to consider it. Then, Karan came home, we had a brief meeting and he asked me to meet him at his office. I did readings with him — I would read poetry and act out scenes. Then, Dhadak happened.

Did you watch Sairat before you signed this film?
Yes, I had seen it with mom. It’s an unbelievable film. It’s such an important movie for Indian cinema. People have loved it because the characters are so relatable. The social message, which comes with the film, is poignant. And Rinku Rajguru is so raw. She has portrayed the character of Archi so beautifully.

How did you prepare for the role?
A lot of preparation went into it. Like I said, I love to act, which is why I wanted to learn everything. And I enjoyed that process immensely. I would have never learnt Mewari or known anything about the Rajasthani culture otherwise. I got the chance to do that, I spent a lot of time in Jaipur and Udaipur, interacted with locals and observed how they speak. Even in Mumbai, I met a few people who are originally from Udaipur. That was the research, but mostly, I sat with director Shashank Khaitan for readings and he would work with me on it. I would read my script every single day. Even when we were shooting, I would read everyone’s lines. The more I voiced the dialogues, the more it came naturally to me. Now, I think I speak Mewari better than I speak Hindi (laughs).

MID-DAY (March 8, 2017)

Rinku Rajguru, who became an overnight star following her turn in Nagraj Manjule's Marathi blockbuster, Sairat, appeared for her class 10 exams yesterday. "I covered the syllabus in just over a month of study," she said while arriving at the exam centre in Solapur.

Talking about taking to her books while filming for her next projects, Rinku said, "The transition from lights, camera, action to physics, chemistry, math was not difficult. The one-and-a-half months I got for studies was enough."

The National Award-winning actress, and ex-student of Jijamata Kanya Prashala girls' school in Solapur, pulled out of school last year, after securing an 81 per cent in class 9 exams. While her parents attributed it to her "hectic schedule", reports suggested crowds that regularly gathered near the premises to catch a glimpse of the young icon put other student to inconvenience.

Sairat earned over Rs 100 crore and became the highest grossing film in the history of Marathi films.

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; January 2, 2016)

Last year, Aamir Khan and his filmmaker-wife Kiran Rao partnered with the state government for its flagship scheme, Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, aimed at making villages drought-free in five years through water conservation programmes. The star announced Satyamev Jayate Water Cup, a competition among villages to conserve water.

Ahead of the second edition of the Cup in 30 talukas of the state, Aamir and Kiran have decided to raise awareness with a music video with some help from the Sairat team. The lead actors of the Marathi blockbuster — Akash Thosar and Rinku Rajguru — will be part of the video directed by Nagraj Manjule while the music will be composed by Ajay-Atul. What’s more, Kiran has lent her voice to the campaign song penned by Guru Thakur.

Confirming the development, Aamir’s spokesperson says, “This is the first time she will be singing and that too, in Marathi. It features Aamir and Sairat lead pair among many other celebrities. It is a beautifully shot video by Nagraj, who has understood the essence and importance of the initiative.”

The names of the participating talukas will be announced at a conference tomorrow at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ Sahyadri State Guest House, adds the spokesperson. Along with the CM, Aamir and Kiran will be present at the event.

Last year, as many as 116 villages took part in the competition, which created an annual water storage capacity of 1,368 crore litres in three talukas of the state. The actor received tremendous success with the test project. “The first edition of the Water Cup was a pilot project and with its success, we now want to extend the watershed management programme to 30 more talukas in Maharashtra to make villages water-sufficient,” Aamir had said during the Water Cup awards function last October.

The competition will take place from April 8 to May 22. Top three villages across the state will get a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh, Rs 30 lakh and Rs 20 lakh respectively. In addition, the top village from each taluka will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

Producers of the film are feeling super-generous as film crosses Rs 60-cr mark
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 20, 2016)

It is appraisal season, after all. And why should film stars be any different? The leading lady and man of the biggest blockbuster in Marathi cinematic history, Sairat, have been awarded a bonus of Rs 5 crore each by its benevolent (and delighted) producers.

The film itself is being seen as a landmark in Marathi film history. Cinemas to meet with the demand have opened 12 am and 3 am slots in rural Maharashtra, a phenomenon never heard of in the hinterland. But so astounding has been the word-of-mouth for the blockbuster that the film has garnered Rs 60 crore at the box-office.

The actors, who had been signed on for a meagre Rs 4 lakh, will now be given Rs 5 crore each, as announced by producer Nittin Keni, CEO-Founder of EsselVision Productions, and co-producer Nikhil Sane, who pulled off the modern classic on a shoestring budget of Rs 4 crore. "Yes, we are planning this as a small gesture of goodwill for the cast and it is not only the actors who will be receiving certain amounts of money, but also the extended cast and crew. We are finalising the paperwork, but at the same time are hoping that we do not have to close our accounting books soon, since the shows are still going houseful. Last week, there were three shows of Captain America: Civil War, three of Azhar and eight of Sairat in Mumbai suburbs," Keni laughs.

The career-defining roles have come to both Akash Thosar, 22, and Rinku Rajguru, 15, with the sort of serendipity that rustic fairytales are made of: eight months ago, filmmaker Nagraj Manjule spotted Akash Thosar, a local pehelwan, at the Jeur railway station as the youngster prepared to board a train to his hometown, Solapur. Manjule had written a story about a young boy falling in love with a girl, set against the backdrop of caste discrimination. He instinctively felt that if this beefed-up lad lost his bulk, he'd be great for the part. Akash, who lives in Pune's Aundh area with his parents and four younger siblings - two sisters and two brothers - was headed to the Jeur Kushti Akhada for a state-level championship. His father is a retired accountant and his mother a housewife. Akash supported his large family with the money he won at kushti matches, each victory bringing in Rs 1,000. Life was hard.

"I went up to him and said that I wanted to cast him as the hero of my next film. He thought I was joking, so I told him that I was the director of Fandry (the 2014 National Award winner for First Film of a Director). We exchanged numbers, I told him that I'd be back in three weeks and that he'd be perfect for the role if he wasn't so muscular. He showed up at the station three weeks later, eight kilos lighter," recalls Manjule, who had already finalised Rinku Rajguru, a local from Akluj village in Solapur, who loved to dance, for the female lead.

Rinku's journey to tinsel town is equally fascinating: she hails from one of the more well-to-do farmer families of Akluj in Solapur district. Rinku was prepping up for her ninth standard exams at the Jijamata Kanya Prashala and confesses that she did even not know "audition" meant. "Nagraj dada told me 'Tu acting karsheel?' I said yes, dancing a bit and spouting a few lines. He gave me the role. I had only 15 days to study for my final exams and I still scored 81 per cent," she says proudly.

The process to stardom was rigorous to say the least: for two months, the cast was holed up at Manjule's Pune home, reading the script and prepping for the role. Six months later, Sairat released on February 17 with English subtitles in 400 theatres. At the end of the second week, the total number of shows went up from 8500 to 14,000. "The Sairat craze has taken all of us by surprise. Who would've thought a Marathi-speaking Romeo and Juliet would eventually hit a 60-crore mark, a first in Marathi cinema. It's gone out of hand with midnight and 3 am shows being introduced at a hall in Satara," informs producer Nitin Keni.

Keni though also insists that the fantastic story and the score by composer duo Ajay-Atul is behind the film's dream run in theatres. "The rough cut was complete and we decided to gamble another Rs 60-70 lakh by sending Ajay-Atul to the US to record live music with 100 instrumentalists and musicians performing at the Sony Theatre in Los Angeles. Guess that paid off too," the producer explains, pointing out that the makers will not be selling the remake rights of the film, even if the largest production house in the country offers them a deal. "We are rolling with the Telugu remake of the film first, followed by a Gujarati version, and, of course, Hindi. The idea is to not make a sequel, but replicate this success in different regions," adds Keni.

Keni hosted a grand success bash at a Juhu five-star on Saturday night, which began at 11pm, when the teenagers who turned superstars overnight walked in. "If one year ago, someone had told me that I would be a superstar, I would have laughed," says Akash, who confesses that he is more used to being called Prashant, his Sairat character's name by now. "Mere parents and friends khush hai and sab mere saath selfie chahte hai, main isi main khush hoon. Aamir Khan and Irrfan Khan ne bhi meri taarif ki. Jin logon ko screen pe dekhkar main taaliyan bajata tha, voh mujhe aaj screen par dekh rahe hai," he says. Ask him on his signing amount of Rs 4 lakh and what he plans to do with his five crores, he says, "Nahi, starting main toh koi contract nahi tha..." and the phone is taken away by the film's publicist, who says that contracts cannot be discussed with the media at this moment.

Rinku, on the other hand, reveals via her publicist that she does not want to discuss her contract or the money she is going to receive. "I have not gone home since the film started and have been living in Pune and Mumbai. I want to continue studying and go home," confides the 15-year-old, who bagged a Special Mention at the 63rd National Awards for her performance as Archana 'Archie' Patil. But she is instantly happy when asked about what she'll remember about Sairat for the rest of her life. "When we were shooting, "Zing Zinghat" played for three days, and all we did was dance. That is what I want to do for the rest of my life," Rinku beams.