Actress Raashii Khanna recently offered candid insights into her career and artistic philosophy. Currently seen in “120 Bahadur,” Khanna revealed a conscious shift in her professional approach. She is now focused on making deliberate choices to cultivate maturity and depth in her acting.
Khanna initially worried about being typecast in commercial films. She desired stronger, more diverse characters. Her role in 2018’s “Tholi Prema” began to alter her career path.
The Amazon Prime Video series “Farzi” further showcased her versatility. Audiences saw her in a de-glamorized and distinct role. This led to a wider array of opportunities within the Hindi film industry, where she feels she has avoided typecasting.
Khanna remains ready to audition if she ever feels pigeonholed. She is committed to breaking stereotypes in her roles.
Reflecting on her work across Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, Khanna noted a shared passion for filmmaking. Each industry strives to create quality content. The primary differences lie in language and cultural nuances.
She described the Tamil industry as highly disciplined. The Telugu industry, she stated, offered immense support, built on audience trust. The Hindi industry provides openness and freedom for artistic experimentation. These diverse experiences have kept her grounded and enriched her craft.
Balancing commercial and content-driven cinema is not as challenging as perceived, according to Khanna. It requires an open mindset. She actively seeks out content-rich projects and offers to audition for them.
However, she also values her connection to commercial cinema, enjoying both types of work. She believes maintaining this balance is a personal responsibility for an actor.
Khanna feels she is still at the beginning of her journey. She harbors many dream roles, including action and period films, ideally combined. She also hopes to explore romantic comedies and psychological thrillers in Hindi.
Her academic background in English Honors significantly impacts her acting process. Khanna approaches each character like a case study. She delves into their past, fears, and coping mechanisms.
Her focus extends beyond merely understanding a character’s dialogue. She strives to comprehend the underlying motivations behind their words. Her education taught her to ask essential questions, a skill invaluable in filmmaking. Khanna emphasizes understanding her characters without judgment.
Khanna’s career outlook has evolved from simply working hard to making conscious decisions. She envisions bringing greater maturity and depth to her performances. Her ambition is to portray layered, flawed, and complex characters. Her ultimate goal is to ensure “the artist always remains alive.”
Regarding “Farzi 2,” Khanna has not yet received the script. She awaits the screenplay to collaborate with the directors and define her character’s trajectory.
For her Bengali role in “Talakhon Mein Ek,” the director, who is Bengali, provided crucial guidance. He helped her understand the independent mindset of Bengali women, which is integrated into her character’s portrayal and stylistic choices. Khanna anticipates this film will be a significant milestone in her career.
Her experience working with Pawan Kalyan on “Ustaad Bhagat Singh” was particularly notable. It was the first film she signed without reviewing the script, driven by a long-held dream to collaborate with him.
Initially, Kalyan’s powerful presence was intimidating, an unusual feeling for Khanna. However, she discovered him to be humble, thoughtful, and a voracious reader. They often discussed books. Kalyan approaches his stardom with a profound sense of responsibility, making the collaboration a special experience.