Rajkummar Rao’s bold revelation to his mother, how her unwavering support shaped his career

Rajkummar Rao has always been known for his fearless approach to acting, and his debut film Love Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD) is a testament to that. In a recent interview with India Today, Rao looked back on his journey and the pivotal role his late mother, Kamlesh Yadav, played during his initial foray into the film industry.

Rao’s debut in 2010 with LSD, directed by Dibakar Banerjee, included a particularly daring scene that involved him in a "bu*t-naked" portrayal. Despite the scene’s explicit nature, Rao’s mother responded with surprising acceptance and support.

He shared, “I informed my parents and my mother was very sweet. She said 'If it's a part of your job, you are an actor, if you think it's very very important, then yeah. Go for it'.” Her reaction highlights a supportive and understanding approach to her son's career choices, even when they challenged societal norms.

Reflecting on his early career, Rao mentioned that he had no rigid boundaries regarding the roles he would accept. His primary concern was whether the role was "convincing" and added value to the story. Rao's willingness to take risks was evident in his acceptance of the controversial scene, despite his initial fears.

The bold scene from LSD was not initially approved by the Censor Board, leading to a blurred version in the film's release. Rao admitted feeling "scared," but the opportunity was too significant to pass up. He recognized that such a role might not come around again and embraced it as a crucial part of his acting journey.

In discussing what would make him consider a challenging role or scene, Rao noted that it would need to be essential to the film’s narrative. “The film should make me believe that it can’t be made without it,” he said.

Love Sex Aur Dhokha was an anthology film that featured Rao in the 'Sex' segment titled Paap ki Dukkaan. Produced by Ekta Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms’ ALT Entertainment, the film also starred Nusshrat Bharuccha, marking a bold and memorable start to Rao’s career.