Rohan Gurbaxani, who started with Hollywood and is now testing the waters in Bollywood, is a name and face people have started recognising more, thanks to his projects such as Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and Bandish Bandits 2. His journey into the world of showbiz has been marked by determination and an unrelenting passion for the craft. For instance, preparing for his role in Bandish Bandits 2, he had only three weeks to learn the piano, which takes years to master. It was an exhausting process but he did not take shortcuts. “It was quite challenging because I had only three weeks. I started playing with both hands in the first class itself because I wanted to make sure I looked like I was a prodigy piano player. You can’t half-ass it, think you will play this on camera, and people will get fooled by it”, he shares.
The pressure was immense, especially when he was playing it during the shooting but his confidence slowly built up. “People came up to me and asked whether I had learned it before. When you hear these things, confidence builds in you.”
Before stepping into Bollywood, he had already made inroads into Hollywood. He started out working as an AD on sets. “Hollywood happened when I was studying acting at NYU Tisch, which is one of the top acting schools in the world. I was able to build a resume there by working as an AD on movie sets and then working as a junior artiste or doing one-scene and two-scene roles. I was ready to start working professionally from my third year of college because I didn’t want to wait until graduation. In my last year of college, I got a manager and started auditioning for professional TV shows and movies. I would prepare for auditions of shows such as Law and Order and NCIS. My goal was to immediately break into that industry even before I finish NYU”.
However, destiny had other plans. The COVID-19 pandemic hit us, and the actor had to come back to India. He continues, “In 2019 before the pandemic hit, I had finished seven films. Four as an AD and three as an actor. One of them was with Alec Baldwin. Another one was with Tyree Gibson and John Malkovich. I was building a name there and then the pandemic hit. After that, I came back to India, and my goal was to always work in the Hindi film industry. So, that almost was like a wake-up call.”
His journey began with Made In Heaven Season 2. “That was a dream for me because I was able to work with Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar’s company. Then I got a role in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. After that, Kho Gaya Hum Kaha and Bandish Bandits 2 happened. I’ve been fortunate to get shows that are watched by millions of people. You just want your work to be seen and you want to be sharp with your craft as well. The start has been great and now the next chapter starts. I’m looking forward to it”, he reflects.
The recognition has been gratifying but he remains grounded. “I don’t think the struggle ever stops. And that’s a good thing. It keeps you alive and sharp. Otherwise, what’s the point? You’re sitting at home and feeling like you’ve reached where you want to reach in life. And then there’s no motivation or drive to become better. That’s a dangerous place to be in and I don’t ever want to feel like I’ve reached a point where I can’t learn more.”
Joining Bandish Bandits, an already loved series was no easy feat but Rohan embraced the challenge. “When people love something and then a new entity comes in, they have to decide whether that person fits in. That’s not in my hands. I came into it thinking that I’m going to do my best and create a different spin in the story. And it’s up to the audience whether they accept it or not,” Rohan says.
Among the many compliments he received for the show, one stood out and that was Vicky Kaushal telling him that he liked his performance. Rohan recalls, “I did an ad with Vicky Kaushal and he said, ‘Bhai, I loved your performance in Bandish Bandits’. It was a big deal for me that someone like him complimented my work. He is someone I looked up to for a long time. Then, a very famous producer, Ramesh Taurani also complimented my work along with some other people.”
Rohan has also worked alongside people such as Ananya Panday and Shanaya Kapoor. He dismisses the notion the ‘star kids’ have it easy. “Everyone works hard. Whoever’s on the top or is doing multiple movies has reached that position because of their hard work. Beginnings may be different but at the end of the day, people want to do their best. They want people to see their art and what effort they’ve put in. You can see that in all the star kids and even in the people who are not from the same background.” Asked about the debate around nepotism, he says that he believes the industry is evolving. “A lot has changed. You have actors who have overtaken star kids. On the other hand, some star kids have proved everyone wrong. It’s anyone’s game. Now even a person who has not come from any filmy background can make it big. Maybe that wasn’t possible 5-10 years ago.”
Having collaborated with directors like Arjun Varain Singh, Anand Tiwari and Anurag Basu, he has learned to adapt to different working styles. “Some don’t have a script. Some give you lines on the day of the shoot. Each process is different,” he explains. Rather than favouring one approach over another, he embraces each experience as a learning opportunity. “I want to give my best performance, regardless of what the situation or the director is,” he states.
Before wrapping up this freewheeling conversation, we ask the talented actor for the best advice he has received. And it is the one from his father that he keeps close to him. “My father said kindness is what takes you forward, more than anything else. If you are kind to people and mean well, then everything else works out. No matter how talented you are or how good you are at your job, if you are not kind to people, you won’t go that far in life.”
It’s a lesson Rohan Gurbaxani holds close to his heart.
Also Read: Bandish Bandits Season 2 Review: Genuine performances and good music