Mumbai, Sep 24 (NationPress) Bollywood star Gajraj Rao is basking in the success of his recent film, Jolly LLB 3. In this film, he shares the screen with renowned actor Ram Kapoor, and he reminisced about their initial encounter from 14 years ago.

On his social media, Rao expressed, “Ram Kapoor is not merely an actor; he is a phenomenal talent — a human whirlwind. His captivating presence can dominate any space, any film set.”

He continued, “I first spotted him nearly 25 years ago in Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding and later in Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, where I made a brief appearance alongside Saurabh Shukla. A few years later, I witnessed his performance in Motwane’s Udaan — and I was instantly captivated by his artistry.

Reflecting on his encounter with Kapoor, Rao shared, “Fast forward to 2011: I met him in person during a promotional shoot for his blockbuster TV series Bade Achhe Lagte Hain. I was ecstatic — here I was, set to direct one of my favorite actors and a major TV star of that time. But instead of a welcoming smile, I was met with cold, distant gazes from Ram.

His co-star Sakshi Tanwar was friendly and receptive to ideas for the TVC; Ram, on the other hand, was not.” He elaborated, “After the first shot, he firmly stated he would only perform as per Ekta Kapoor, the producer’s vision for his character — not according to my directions. Suddenly, I found myself in a challenging position, with the entire crew watching me. For a moment, I felt like Premnath facing Pran in Bobby.”

Expressing his embarrassment, Rao recounted, “I nearly gave up but then mustered the courage to politely ask Ram for one option to consider — the version I had already discussed with Sony’s marketing head, Mr. Danish Khan, during our pre-production discussions.” He noted that after some persuasion, Ram eventually relented. “Ram reluctantly agreed,” Rao revealed.

“We completed the take, and I moved on, silently regretting my predicament and vowing never to work with him again. But ten minutes later, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Ram. He candidly admitted that after reviewing the monitor, he recognized that my interpretation was indeed accurate.” Praising Ram’s grace as an actor and person, Rao stated, “And just like that, the man I had judged to be arrogant all morning transformed into the most cooperative and graceful actor on set.” The remainder of the day unfolded smoothly — the promos were a hit, and the show subsequently became a massive success.”

Using a metaphor, Rao reflected, “That day, I realized Ram is like a coconut — hard on the exterior, but soft at heart. He expresses his thoughts candidly, yet at his core, he is warm, gracious, and a pleasure to collaborate with.” He further reminisced about his experience working with Ram on Jolly LLB 3 and stated, “Fast forward to 2024: I found myself back on set with Ram for Jolly LLB 3. He remains candid and unfiltered, but underneath, he resembles an enthusiastic teenager — always keen to discover, always brimming with energy. His presence on set is electrifying.”

Praising Kapoor’s performance in the film, Gajraj Rao stated, “As Hari Bhai Khaitan’s defense lawyer in Jolly LLB 3, Ram is exceptional. His climactic courtroom argument is delivered with elegance and sophistication. He illuminates the screen in every frame.”

He encouraged audiences to watch the film, particularly for Ram Kapoor’s impressive acting. “Catch Jolly LLB 3 for Ram Kapoor’s stellar performance — now playing in theaters near you,” he wrote. Jolly LLB 3 features Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, Gajraj Rao, and Ram Kapoor in key roles.

It also stars Amrita Rao and Huma Qureshi. The recently released movie has been receiving favorable reviews from both audiences and critics.

–IANS

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