Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Rahul Bhat Interview: Sudhir Mishra is a dream director for an actor

From participating in Mr India contest to walking the runway as a model and from acting to television production, multi-talented Rahul Bhat has done it all in his career. After staying away from the silver screen for more than five years, the actor returned to his first love with Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed film Ugly, which did the rounds at various national and international film festivals, including the very prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Last seen in Sanjay Patel's Union Leader, Bhat is now gearing up for the release of perhaps his career's most important film Daas Dev, which is helmed by award-winning filmmaker Sudhir Mishra. Our Mumbai correspondent recently spent 15 minutes with the actor to know more about what drew him to Daas Dev, his experience working with Sudhir, and whether or not he will go back to television, where he started his acting career from. The actor also talked about surviving in showbiz without any godfather and what else attracts him apart from acting. Excerpts...

This is the first time when you are collaborating with Sudhir Mishra. He is a prolific filmmaker with many great films to his credit. How was your experience working with him?


Sudhir sir is the master of his craft. He has made so many great films which we still remember. He is an award-winning director. From his vast experience and knowledge, I have learned a lot. I think he is a dream director for an actor because he does not intrude into your craft, instead, he supports you. He pushes you. He pushes you to do something new. He pushes you to do something interesting and exciting. He pushes you in the right direction. When a rocket goes up in the air, leaving the Earth’s atmosphere, there is a propeller which pushes it to go to the Mars or the Moon or wherever the destination is. He is like that propeller.

Does he welcome ideas and let his actors take liberty while doing particular scenes or he sticks to his script and you will have to do what is written there on the paper?

He is totally open to ideas. He gives you immense freedom. He does not confine you to a certain kind of a space. He lets you fly and go as long as you are going the right direction.

You started your career from films and then took a long break before venturing into television production. Now you have returned to films again. How did all this happen?

I started my career from modelling. I first participated in Mr India and then did Heena for almost five years. Then I did a movie with Umesh Mehra who was a big director back then. He had directed Khilaḍiyoṅ Ka KhiladiInternational Khiladi, and so many big films. I did Yeh Mohabbat Hai with him. Then I did Nitin Manmohan’s Nayee Padosan. After Nayee Padosan did fairly okay, I was getting the work I did not really feel like doing. I was getting offered films which I didn’t believe in. They were being offered by directors who were not exciting enough for me. So, I took a break from films. Accidentally, I started my television production house. It kind of took off very well. We did a lot of successful shows like Tum Dena Saath Mera and Meri Doli Tere Angana. We also did a lot of work for Doordarshan. I didn’t act in those shows; I just produced them. After eight years while doing TV, Anurag Kashyap offered me Ugly. He said, ‘Come on, do acting again! The moment he offered me Ugly, I shut my television company. I said, ‘Enough, I will have to concentrate on my acting’ because primarily and basically I wanted to become an actor. So, that’s how I came back to acting. And of course, after UglyFitoor happened followed by Union Leader and so many films. There are many films in the pipeline also. So, let’s see what happens. Future looks exciting though.

Will you never revive your television production house, even if something great comes your way?

It depends. Right now, I am totally concentrating on my acting. It depends on the opportunity. If the opportunity is right and time is right, then why not? I am open to everything.

Coming back to Daas Dev, what drew you towards the film – the script or the director sitting next to you?

For me, the first thing is the director because it’s very logical and very clear that if the director is right, his script will be right. He wouldn’t pick up a wrong script. If the director is Sudhir Mishra, will he take up a stupid script? Never. Then why should I bother about the script? I know the script must be good. If the director is Anurag Kashyap, he will do a good script. Why will he pick up a bad script? Do I have more understanding and talent than him in terms of scripts? Do I understand a script more than an Anurag Kashyap and Sudhir Mishra, Vishal Bhardwaj and Imtiaz Ali? No boss, I don’t. So, let me work with these directors because I know their scripts must be very good. However, my part is very important for me. I want to play main parts. I want to play the right parts. I am not going to play any random character.

As you just said that you don’t want to play any random part. Was that the reason you did not take up many projects in the past?

In the past, I had gotten all the main parts but the scripts and directors were not good. But now, the directors who are approaching me are good and so are the scripts. So, I feel I am in the right space right now.

There are two gorgeous ladies in the film – Richa Chadha and Aditi Rao Hydari. How was your experience working with them?

It was great working with them. They are so talented, beautiful and nice. They are very professional.

You came from a different place and became a part of the industry. Tell me from your experience that is it really difficult for an outsider to come here, survive and leave a mark?

It’s really difficult for anybody, be it an outsider, insider or whoever it is. It doesn’t matter. It’s very difficult. Yes, whoever is an insider gets the first opportunity because of his father or grandfather. But remember, his father or grandfather must have been an outsider one day. Some outsider had come from somewhere and started.

This industry is cruel. It’s very straightforward. If you are good, it will salute you. If you are not good, it will ask you to make way for somebody else that is more deserving. So whether you are an insider or an outsider, you will have to prove yourself.

Apart from acting and production, is there any other arena of filmmaking that attracts you?

Direction and writing attract me a lot. All actors think they are writers (laughs). They think they know the craft. Unfortunately, they might be wrong. But I am writing something on Kashmir. It’s called To Hell With Heaven.

Will you ever go back to acting on television?

Yeah, I don’t have any problem, but only when something really great is offered. A lot of television offers come to me almost every day. They are offering me big money also as TV has become so big over the years. I don’t accept them because, right now, I have many films to look after. But if there is something really exciting, I might be interested.

More For You

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson attends the "Jurassic World Rebirth" photocall

Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson calls out Hollywood’s history of hypersexualising young women

Quick highlights:

  • Scarlett Johansson says early roles focused on “desirability” and male-centred narratives
  • Notes positive shift in how women are portrayed in Hollywood today
  • Recalls being hypersexualised and typecast as a young actress
  • Currently stars in The Phoenician Scheme, with Jurassic World Rebirth out on 2 July

Scarlett Johansson has reflected on how Hollywood roles for women have evolved, admitting that early in her career, most of her characters were written to serve male-driven storylines. Speaking in an interview, the actress said the landscape has changed, with more nuanced opportunities for women on screen.

Keep ReadingShow less
Beyonce car prop tilts

Flying car mishap forces Beyoncé to pause Houston performance mid-song

Instagram/beyonce

Beyoncé forced to stop Houston show as flying car stunt goes wrong in mid-air

Quick highlight:

  • Beyoncé stopped her Houston Cowboy Carter show after her suspended Cadillac prop tilted dangerously.
  • The singer was performing 16 Carriages mid-air when she yelled, “Stop! Stop!” to halt the show.
  • She was safely lowered to the stage and told fans, “If ever I fall, I know y’all will catch me.”
  • Parkwood Entertainment confirmed a technical mishap but said the show resumed without injuries.

Beyoncé stopped her Cowboy Carter tour performance in Houston after a mid-air prop began to tilt precariously during the penultimate song. The singer, perched in a suspended red Cadillac high above the crowd, abruptly cut the song 16 Carriages short when the vehicle began to slant.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prashasti Singh

Prashasti Singh

Prashasti Singh brings her truth to the Fringe: “Laughter, femininity, and full disclosure”

With sharp wit, emotional honesty and a knack for turning personal crises into punchlines, Indian comedian Prashasti Singh is set to make her Edinburgh Fringe debut this August with her acclaimed stand-up show, Divine Feminine. Before taking on the world’s biggest arts festival, she will offer London audiences a sneak peek with previews at Soho Theatre from 23 to 26 July.

Prashasti, known globally for her appearances on Netflix’s Ladies Up, Comedy Premium League and Amazon Prime’s Comicstaan, uses this deeply personal new show to unpack the consequences of chasing a dream that might not have been hers to begin with. Raised in a patriarchal family, she once aspired to become a patriarch herself. Now, inching towards 40 and pretending to be 30, she wonders – was it all worth it?

Keep ReadingShow less
Charli XCX
After backlash at Glastonbury, Charli says autotune is a choice, not a flaw
BBC

Charli XCX slams ‘boomer’ autotune critics after Glastonbury: ‘Not having a band doesn’t make me fake’

Quick highlights:

  • Charli XCX criticised certain fans for attacking her autotuned vocals at Glastonbury 2025.
  • Called the backlash “the most boring take ever” in a series of posts on X.
  • Defended her artistic choices, saying divisive art is often the most impactful.
  • Her Brat set clashed with Neil Young’s headline act, drawing polarising reactions.

Charli XCX has addressed criticism over her use of autotune during her Glastonbury 2025 performance, calling out the ageist tone of comments that questioned her authenticity as a performer. The singer clapped back on X, brushing off the noise as outdated and out of touch.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kareena Kapoor Saif stabbing

Kareena Kapoor gets emotional discussing Saif’s stabbing incident in an interview with Barkha Dutt

Getty Images

Kareena Kapoor says Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing still haunts her: ‘I didn’t sleep for months’

Quick highlights:

  • Kareena Kapoor has spoken out for the first time about Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing.
  • Saif was attacked at home in January 2025 during a burglary attempt.
  • Their sons, Taimur and Jeh, witnessed the violent episode.
  • Kareena says the family is still coping but trying to move forward together.

Actor Kareena Kapoor has opened up for the first time about the terrifying night her husband, Saif Ali Khan, was stabbed by an intruder at their Mumbai home. In a deeply personal interview with journalist Barkha Dutt, Kareena admitted that the incident left her shaken and sleepless for months, especially with their children, Taimur and Jeh, present during the attack.

Keep ReadingShow less