I’m not scared of losing stardom. I’m scared of not getting enough work.” – Rajkummar Rao

~The actor opens up about his deepest fear in front of Barkha Dutt at We The Women 2024 ~

Rajkummar Rao, celebrated for blockbusters like Stree 2, the highest-grossing Indian film this year, opened up about his fears, struggles, and the transformative experiences that have shaped his life in a candid conversation with Barkha Dutt at the 7th edition of We The Women.

Speaking about his passion for acting and the challenges of staying grounded, he said, “I am scared of… I shouldn’t get corrupted, I shouldn’t get entangled in the whole hoopla of how to be an actor on how people tell you or guide you on doing things. I don’t want to do that!”

Elaborating on having faced struggles early on, he says, “I am not scared of losing stardom, but not getting enough work! I just want to work, everyday till I die, till eternity! I’m not scared of not having enough money is because I’ve seen it growing up and it cannot get worse than that. I’ve seen the lowest, so you cannot take me lower than that!”

Reflecting on glamor, gravitas, and grassroots, Rajkummar Rao shared a heartfelt account of his journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the industry’s most celebrated actors. Speaking emotionally about his mother, who was his anchor during his struggle days, he said, “I miss her smiling face and her voice! Her voice still echoes in my mind, and I’ve kept her alive here in my heart. I talk to her through her pictures about everything—if there are any troubles, I tell her, ‘See what’s happening, can you please sort it out?’ And it happens!”

The actor shared how personal losses have profoundly changed his perspective on life, he expressed, “I think something shifted between me and Patralekha because I saw my mother going, my father going, we lost Patra’s dad in 2021 and recently we lost our dearly pet Gaga (our dog), I think we saw death so closely that something shifted and we started seeing life with a different lens where nothing matters. What matters the most is one should be at peace, one should be happy, one should be kind towards people, friends, family and just live your life to the fullest because you never know what’s going to happen the next moment. So don’t have any regrets and enjoy your life!”

Through a blend of humility and heartfelt reflections, Rajkummar Rao reminded the audience of the importance of staying true to oneself, cherishing loved ones, and finding peace amidst life’s uncertainties. Culminating the session on a lighter note, the actor delighted fans by shaking a leg with them, spreading joy and leaving the audience with an unforgettable moment.