Happy birthday, Rajkummar Rao: Some of the actor’s most astonishing transformations

Rajkummar Rao has carved a niche for himself in Bollywood with his impeccable performances. He has portrayed every character with absolute honesty and for some, he has also undergone a complete transformation. On his birthday, here's a look at some of his characters that left the audience stumped.

Raabta (2017)

Rajkummar Rao had a cameo in the Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon starrer, but he underwent a complete transformation to play a 324-year-old man in the reincarnation drama. Each day, he dedicated five-six hours to the prosthetic makeup required to get into the skin of the character. His drastic transformation had left everyone in shock.

Trapped (2016)

This was probably one of the most challenging roles for the actor. The film received a lot of critical acclaim. Rajkummar Rao went on a strict carrot and black coffee diet during and prior to the film’s shoot to look the part of a man who starved for days.

In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, he said, ‘That was the need of the script. I was playing a character that was going through such hell. So to fit in the character I had to starve myself. I was on black coffee and carrots for days to go through that pain, frustration, and helplessness.’

Omerta (2017)

Rajkummar Rao portrayed the role of British-born terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in this film. In an interview with The Indian Express, the actor talked about the process of fitting into the character of a terrorist. He revealed that he spent hours listening to Sheikh’s speeches and trying to not only understand but also feel the hate and anger that he poured out.

Bose: Dead/Alive (2017)

The actor gained 11kgs for his web series based on India's freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Rao said he binged on pizzas, Bengali sweets, and junk food for over one month and stopped working out. Bald and pot-bellied, he certainly looked the part in the Hansal Mehta directorial.

Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015)

Rajkummar’s role in the Mohit Suri directorial demanded him to look shabby and that’s why the actor chose not to bathe for several days in a row. As per reports, he didn't have a shower for nearly 20 days to justify his role as Hari, who was set up as a terrorist in the film. He reportedly also went barefoot and ran in intense jungles during a sequence.

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