He has often featured in movies tackling sensitive subjects, but Rajkummar Rao’s forthcoming Behen Hogi Teri is a refreshing break for the actor.
Rao made his debut in 2010 with Dibakar Banerjee’s Love Sex Aur Dhokha and went on to work in films such as Kai Po Che!, Shahid and his last release, Aligarh.
Though Rao has one comedy-drama film to his credit, the Sonam Kapoor starrer Dolly Ki Doli, Behen Hogi Teri will be his first solo lead romantic-comedy. “This is probably my first solo lead rom-com. But, just because it belongs to that genre, doesn’t mean the efforts are not there. It is not that I am doing anything less. There are preparations, training, I am emotionally as involved as I am for any other film,” said Rao.
“But yes, Behen Hogi Teri is not a typical Bollywood potboiler, or romantic-comedy. It is a very relatable, human film with lots of interesting moments,” he added.
Directed by Ajay K. Pannalal and backed by Amul Mohan, the film features Shruti Haasan opposite the 32-year-old actor.
Rao is currently shooting for the film in Lucknow and insists the backdrop of the city will add a lot of layers to the overall project.
“Lucknow is the flavour of the season. A lot of the films are being shot here.
“There is a whole Jaagran community [devotional singers who do shows all night] here, which not many apart from north Indians might be aware of. My character, Gattu, plays Shiva in one of the jaagran mandlis, which is owned by Shruti’s character and he is in love with her,” the actor said.
Rao says the quirky title of the movie stems from the notion in most Indian communities that boys and girls living in the same area are considered siblings.
“My character is madly in love with her, but since he is from the same mohalla [area], they are neighbours, everybody thinks that [they are siblings]. But in his heart and mind, he knows she can’t be his sister. That’s how the title comes,” he said.
The actor has started shooting the film after completing Trapped, Omerta and Newton.
“My last three to four films have been very challenging, and very taxing. From there, I have come to Behen Hogi Teri. It is, of course, a performance driven film but is not that emotionally taxing as others.”
The film is scheduled to release next year.
