Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

'It was such a celebration of life,' says actor Gajraj Rao describing his experience of working on upcoming film Maja Ma

Rao plays Madhuri Dixit's husband in the upcoming film.

'It was such a celebration of life,' says actor Gajraj Rao describing his experience of working on upcoming film Maja Ma

It takes a lot to be an actor who leaves an indelible mark on the viewers forever, and Gajraj Rao is one of them. With perfect comic timing, powerful one-liners, and amazing performances, he has been a name on many minds for a long time.

Prime Video’s first Indian Amazon Original Movie Maja Ma has an unusual Bollywood jodi, where Gajraj Rao plays Madhuri Dixit’s husband. Playing the role of Manohar Patel, Rao is back on screen as a father with his hilarious punchlines.


Papa Patel loves his wife, stands by his daughter, and is proud of the man his son is becoming. Landing a dream role like this, Gajraj is content and excited about how the audience will react to his character of Manohar Patel.

We must say that the trailer has left millions of hearts, including ours, waiting to see this duo work their magic on-screen!

Speaking about the circumstances in which this role was offered to him and why he agreed to it, the actor said, “In the midst of a pandemic, I was scared to take up a project. I wasn’t very sure if I should do it. It had never happened that we all had to stay indoors, closed inside our homes for months. So, to do a project at such a stressful time, but still have a blast with the terrific people working alongside you, and having it turn out so well, is an experience I shall never forget. It was such a celebration of life. Maja Ma wasn't a regular film being shot at regular times, yet we never realized all of the tension because we were truly enjoying ourselves!"

Talking about his role in the movie as Manohar Patel, Gajraj said, "When this role was narrated to me, it wasn't clearly told that this character is the husband's part or a hero's part. My role was said to be a life partner. The entire flavor of the character was one of a life partner. Someone who would face everything that comes their partner’s way with them, regardless of how good or bad it is. So, I tried to play my character just like that. Of course, it was made much easier because Madhuri Dixit is a phenomenal actress and she made my life very easy. It is a beautifully written character, and as much as I've seen of it, the audience will also enjoy the relationship between us."

Produced by Leo Media Collective and Amritpal Singh Bindra; directed by Anand Tiwari and written by Sumit Batheja, Maja Ma is a family entertainer, set against the celebratory backdrop of a traditional festival and a quintessential, colorful Indian wedding. Warm and funny, this light-hearted yet thought-provoking drama with unexpected twists and turns, features Madhuri Dixit in the lead, in a never-seen-before role.

It boasts of an ensemble cast including Gajraj Rao, Ritwik Bhowmik, Barkha Singh, Srishti Shrivastava, Rajit Kapur, Sheeba Chadha, Simone Singh, Malhar Thakar, and Ninad Kamat. Prime members in India and in more than 240 countries and territories can stream this highly-awaited Hindi Amazon Original movie from 6th October.

More For You

Ainy Jaffri

The narrative centres around two characters, Nighat and Tariq

X/ Rukhsati'

Ainy Jaffri brings a deeply personal south Asian story to the stage with 'Rukhsati'

Highlights

  • Ainy Jaffri leads Rukhsati at Tara Theatre from April 23 to 26
  • One-act play explores love, memory and societal expectations
  • Actor says the role of Nighat connects closely with her own experiences

A script that stood out

Ainy Jaffri steps onto the stage with Rukhsati, drawn in by what she describes as a layered and emotionally rich script. The project, written and directed by Saqib Deshmukh, has already seen earlier runs before moving to Tara Theatre.

Jaffri said the opportunity came through her co-actor Hassan Khan, and the strength of the writing made it an immediate draw, particularly as a two-hander that places sustained focus on performance.

Keep ReadingShow less