Actor Ramandeep Yadav, who earned widespread recognition for his portrayal of the soft-spoken pickpocket Rajjo in the crime thriller Raakh, is now taking on an entirely new avatar as Kinnu in the horror-comedy series Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot. Speaking on 25 September 2026, Yadav said he is deeply grateful for the chance to step into a character so distinct from his breakout role, adding that the pursuit of variety is central to an actor's craft.

The Challenge of Breaking the Mould

Yadav was candid about the difficulty of escaping typecasting early in a career. 'As an actor, you want to do different things. And obviously, when you have done the work of one zone, you want to see what variations you can put on in the market. That I can do different things,' he said. He acknowledged that securing such opportunities is far from guaranteed, calling it 'very difficult to get.'

Reflecting on the contrast between his two roles, Yadav noted: 'Like you have done the character of one zone, people wait. That I have to do something different, I will not do the work of the same zone. I am very grateful that I got Kinnu, who is very different from Rajjo.' The remark underlines a conscious career decision to resist repetition at a stage when many newer actors tend to stick to what has already worked for them.

Embracing the 'Night Zone' — With a Fresh Spin

Notably, Yadav did not dismiss darker or more intense roles — what he referred to as 'the work of the night zone.' Instead, he framed it as an ongoing creative challenge. 'It is not that I do not want to do the work of the night zone. I want to do it. And that is the challenge for me — what freshness I am able to add in it. But yes, different things, as an artist, you always want to do different things,' he said. He also expressed a desire to explore his romantic side on screen, hinting at further range-building ahead.

About Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot

The 40-episode series premiered on 11 September on JioHotstar. Set against the backdrop of Central Indian folklore, the show blends ancient myths, haunted mysteries, and adventure into a horror-comedy format. It stars Asha Negi as Ali — full name Alisha 'Ali' Nigam, a science-driven neuropsychology expert whose search for her missing father pulls her into a supernatural world — and Vishal Vashishtha as Baba.

Ramandeep's Rise: From Raakh to Folklore

Raakh, the crime thriller inspired by the real-life Ranga–Billa case, depicted the abduction of two siblings and the subsequent police investigation. The series starred Ali Fazal, Sonali Bendre, Akash Makhija, Rakesh Bedi, and Aamir Bashir alongside Yadav, who played Rajjo — a character who begins as unassuming and gradually becomes one of the show's most unsettling presences. That performance turned Yadav into an overnight sensation and opened the door to roles of greater range and complexity. With Kinnu, he now tests how far that range can stretch.