Since the beginning, we had the feeling that Rudra is an underdog who would probably become important in the later phases of the show
But somehow after watching the show from his perspective and rethinking the entire scenario, I feel that he isn't "an Underdog", he is already a very responsible person.
Rudra has always been the binding glue between Shivaaye and Omkara, right for the time Shivkara had a fight among themselves for wrapping up the death to Ashok, it has always been Rudra would makes them forget their differences.
Their family has always been busy in themselves and did not have time for the children (I know now they have changed, but this is how they started), and it is through him that both of them have lived their childhood, however now Rudra is old enough to understand this, and he doesn't want to take away the only source of happiness that his brothers have in their lives, and therefore still behaves as a kid. He had infact even said once that even if he grows up, he would still remain the youngest and if he has to be the youngest why shall he even bother growing up
Although he always behaves as someone who is stupid (single digit IQ as Om says), but he immediately recognized Mr. Patel when he saw him with Ishana, while Om couldn't recognize him, also the kind of excuses he makes to his girl friends is a clear proof that he is anything but dolt, but then he knows that his brothers like seeing him as stupid and he behaves in the way they would like him to
During the first few episodes, I felt that probably Rudra does not know about his family's disturbances, but now it seems that he knows it pretty clearly knows the problems in the family, but he also have come to terms to it, he clearly understands that he can do nothing to resolve it, so why bother about it??? Instead of becoming gloomy or sad about those what is absent, he tries to enjoy what is there in his family, i.e. his brothers support. He doesn't make a gloomy face seeing the disturbances, but makes stupid jokes so that the focus shifts onto him and the gloominess reduces.
I feel he is the strongest in the trio, when the video of Tej and Swetlana got leaked, Om nearly lost it, but despite being in exactly the same situation, Rudra stayed strong, this is despite the fact that he being a college student meets more people (and mostly students) who could actually mock him for this (Omkara hardly interacts with outsiders)
He is anything but a regular playboy that we watch on TV. He is someone who cries at others sorrows, who gets restless on hurting others.
He is like that joker who makes others laugh, but doesn't show his inner wounds to anyone