Rajkummar Rao confesses: "Trust me, every year I tell myself to do lesser films"

It has been quite a streak that actor Rajkummar Rao has been having at the movies lately. In the last 14 months, Rao has now had six releases, ranging from Srikanth in May 2024 to now his upcoming release, Maalik, set to release on 11th July 2025.

For an actor like him, who is on the constant rise, it might seem like a double-edged sword to dabble where one would love the fact that work is pouring and films are doing well too but also the risk of over-exposure and over-burdening yourself.

In an exclusive conversation with India Forums, we asked him about the same.

I think, if I do not do it (a script that comes) somebody else will. And I will regret it.

- Rajkummar Rao

Q. You’re someone who started from scratch and had that breakout moment with Shahid. Over the years, your filmography has only grown stronger. For many, you’re that success story, someone people look at and say, "I want to be like this." Not just because you’re a hero, but because your journey feels earned. But I want to ask something a little different. Do you ever feel like things get overwhelming, not necessarily the workload but just the momentum of it all? Do you find yourself questioning whether you should take a step back, take time off for yourself? Or do you tell yourself, "No, I will never complain about this"?

To this, Rajkummar Rao answered, "No, I will never complain about this for sure. But I also know that it is important for me to do very selective work, which I really try to. Trust me, every year I tell myself I will just do two or three films and that is it.

But then something like Maalik comes along, or Ganguly biopic.. I can only talk about Ganguly right now, but there are a couple of other very exciting films too. And you just get greedy. The stories are amazing, the makers are incredible.

Then I think, if I do not do it, somebody else will. And I will regret it. I will be like, "I should have done it. Why didn't I?" Because I wanted a two-month holiday? No, I am going to do it. So yes, sometimes it works like that too."