Rajiv Thakur: I am better at serious roles than comedy

Rajiv Thakur, known for his comic timing, recently surprised audiences by portraying a terrorist in Anubhav Sinha’s web show IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. Even the makers were taken aback when they first received his audition tape. He shares, “Anubhav sir told me my audition was so good that he couldn’t ignore it. However, he did wonder whether I would be accepted in that role, considering my 15-year-long history in comedy. He said, ‘I was afraid people would see you and expect a joke’.”

He recalls feeling anxious after the series’ launch. He shares, “When it dropped, I was terrified to watch it, unsure of how much screen time I’d have, especially with a cast that included heavyweights like Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur. In the last week of shooting, I asked Anubhav sir whether the show would change my life because I had pinned high hopes on it. He replied, ‘I don’t know if it will change your life, but none of my actors will look less important than anyone else’.”

‘Typecasting is rampant in our industry’
The actor acknowledges how quickly the industry typecasts actors. He says, “Everyone knows that typecasting is rampant in our industry. People seem to think that someone established in comedy — often regarded as one of the toughest genres — can’t do anything else. Many assume I’m only capable of comedy, but I’m here to shatter that perception. I think I am better at serious roles than comedy. However, since I have been seen exploring the latter, it overshadows everything else. I want to explore all shades and genres.”

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‘The audience believes the humiliation on Kapil’s show is real’
Rajiv is also part of Kapil Sharma’s show, in which his character, Raju, is often the butt of jokes. Does this ever affect him? “Not at all. The audiences tend to believe that the jokes and jabs are real. They think I’m actually struggling and have to tolerate everyone’s insults. We aren’t bashing each other; we’re just making light-hearted jokes to entertain the audience. Also, if I can’t laugh at myself, I have no right to joke about others. So, it’s all a part of the game. A show is like a cricket match, which isn’t just about hitting sixes; it’s about running between the wickets to keep the game going,” he concludes.