"Coincidentally, accidentally or intentionally, Zee has become a part of my journey"

Actor Raj Arjun has seen quite a few ups and downs in his career. He honed his talent in theatre, before moving on to films, television and now web series. He made his mark in films like ‘Secret Superstar’, ‘Thalaivii’, ‘Shershah’ and ‘Raees’. He is now geared for his new teleplay on Zee Theatre, ‘Tadbeer’, which will be aired on Tata Play Theatre throughout this month. 

In ‘Tadbeer’, Raj Arjun assays the role of Darshan, an ex-army officer who, because of his forthright, unbending nature and idealism, becomes a victim of the system. After being thrown out of the Army, he joins a political group. But there, too, he fines a rot in the system. ‘Tadbeer’ also stars Siddharth Menon, Manoj Kolhatkar, and Jayant Gadekar. 

In conversation with Adgully, Raj Arjun speaks about what makes ‘Tadbeer’ a unique story, his journey as an actor, his experience working with Zee, his upcoming projects and more. 

What makes ‘Tadbeer’ a unique story?

The youth can achieve a lot when they are on the right path, but when they are misguided in the name of religion and caste and are pressured by parents or societal norms, then their focus deviates. This is the theme that ‘Tadbeer’ explores in a very honest way. It is contemporary, relatable, and yet unique because it mirrors exactly what is happening in our society today. The story shows how a simple young man is taken advantage of by a politician and also depicts how extraordinary people with great potential don’t succeed in society because their self-respect, honesty, and ideals are trampled upon in a corrupt system that rejects and completely overpowers them. 

Could you tell us something about your character in ‘Tadbeer’?

I am playing Darshan, an ex-army officer who, because of his forthright, unbending nature and idealism, becomes a victim of the system that breaks down people who believe in themselves. So, this honest, dedicated, and passionate officer is thrown out of service, and how he survives and the way he battles his inner demons make up for the rest of the riveting story. 

What similarities can you draw between yourself and your character?

When I am playing a character, I embody it in every way, but I particularly relate to Darshan because just like him, I also speak very little, am clear-sighted, and sorted about many things, including that I will never bow down to please or pamper anyone’s ego unnecessarily. 

Any message that you would like to give to the audience?

The audience is intelligent and smart enough and does not want to hear anyone’s message unnecessarily. They tune into what they identify with. I just want them to watch what they like and be happy and content. That to me is more important. 

How was your experience working with Zee Theatre?

It was a fantastic experience because my roots run deep in theatre and any project that takes me back to the theatre makes my heart beat faster with excitement. The moment I was offered ‘Tadbeer’, I agreed because this was a chance to reconnect with my first love. Zee also has been a big part of my journey, because my first film ‘Secret Superstar’ was screened on Zee, as was the series ‘Karenjit Kaur’. After ‘Tadbeer’, another project, ‘Love Hostel’ was also released on a Zee platform on February 25. I am thankful to Zee because coincidentally, accidentally, or intentionally, they have become a part of my journey. 

What are your upcoming projects in 2022?

There is ‘Love Hostel’, which is directed by Shankar Raman and produced by Red Chilies and Drishyam Films. Shankar is a brilliant director and my co-actors are Sanya Malhotra, Vikrant Massey, and Bobby Deol. I had a great time working on the film, which released on February 25 on ZEE5. After this, you will see me in a very big Hindi web series made by one of my favourite directors, Imtiaz Ali. I just love him as a human and as a maker, so I am fortunate enough that I am getting an opportunity to work with him. Then there is ‘Yudhra’, a film produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment. It is directed by Ravi Udyawar and my co-actors are Siddhant Chaturvedi, Malavika Mohanan, Gajraj Rao, Ram Kapoor, and Raghav Juyal. In Malayalam, there is ‘Khajuraho Dreams’, which is directed by Manoj Vasudev, and has many renowned actors. In Telugu, there is a Hotstar web series called ‘Jhansi’ and there are many other projects in the pipeline as well.