Actor Ramandeep Yadav has opened up about a deliberate creative choice he made while preparing for his role as the serial killer Rajjo in the recently released web series 'Raakh' — he chose not to do extensive research, and his reasoning is more layered than it might first appear. The show also stars Sonali Bendre and Ali Fazal.

Why Ramandeep Avoided Deep Research

'Raakh' is not a biographical drama, Ramandeep explained, even though the series draws inspiration from certain real-life events. His character Rajjo, he stressed, is entirely fictional. 'I didn't do detailed research because we were not making a biographical project. The story is inspired by certain events, but Rajjo is a fictional character,' he said.

He went a step further, stating that the real individuals connected to the infamous 1978 Ranga-Billa case — which reportedly served as a loose reference point — do not, in his view, deserve a biopic. It is a pointed remark that underscores the show's deliberate distance from glorifying its real-world inspirations.

Trusting the Script's World

Rather than drawing from real-life material, Ramandeep chose to work entirely within the framework constructed by the writers and directors. 'The writers and directors had already created a complete world for Rajjo. He had his own history, emotions, and motivations. I felt it was better to stay within the framework of the script rather than get influenced by real-life details,' he said.

This approach reflects a school of acting that prioritises internal character logic over external reference points — particularly significant when the character in question is a violent offender whose real-world counterparts the creative team did not wish to humanise further.

The Psychological Challenge of Playing Rajjo

Ramandeep described understanding Rajjo's mindset as the biggest emotional and psychological hurdle of the role. 'I had to figure out where he was coming from, what drove him, and how he justified his actions. As a person, I am completely different from Rajjo. When I first read the script, I was deeply disturbed and even emotional because of how brutally the story was written. But as an actor, I had to find reasons behind his actions,' he said.

To bridge that gap, the team conducted extensive workshops exploring Rajjo's instincts, survival mentality, and emotional background. 'We created a detailed backstory to make the character more believable. All of this helped me perform the role with conviction,' he added.

What This Means for 'Raakh'

The creative distance from real events appears intentional at every level of the production. By keeping Rajjo fictional while drawing atmospheric cues from a real case, the makers of 'Raakh' have attempted to craft a thriller that is grounded in recognisable horror without being an endorsement or dramatisation of actual perpetrators. Whether that balance lands will ultimately be for audiences to judge as viewership data comes in.