PremiumExclusive | Mystery of the Tattoo actor Rohit Raaj: ‘I have come a long way from being a child artiste to a lead actor now’
In his debut film as a lead actor, Rohit Raaj is sharing screen space with Arjun Rampal, Ameesha Patel, Manoj Joshi and Daisy Shah
Rohit Raaj in Mystery of the Tattoo
Last Updated: 03.37 PM, Aug 25, 2023
You would probably remember him as a child artiste who appeared in the mythological television drama series Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki and Jhansi Ki Rani, which was inspired by the story of Rani Lakshmi Bai. After nearly 15 years, Rohit Raaj is making a comeback - this time as a lead actor.
After completing his studies and securing a diploma in film acting from Barry John Acting School, Rohit is making his film debut as a lawyer in writer-director Kalaiarasi Sathappan’s upcoming suspense crime thriller film Mystery of the Tattoo, while he is also gearing up for his second release Super Woman, featuring Tigmanshu Dhulia and Poonam Dhillon in key roles.
Slated to hit the cinemas on September 1, Mystery of the Tattoo also stars Arjun Rampal, Ameesha Patel, Daisy Shah, Manoj Joshi, Myra Sareen and Tom Hendryk, among others. In a candid chat with OTTplay, Rohit shares his experience of coming back in front of the camera, why he thinks his debut film is different from other mystery thrillers, his love for Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani and more. Excerpts:
Q. You began your journey as a child artiste on television. And now, you are back on screen as the lead actor of a film. How does it feel?
A. Honestly, it feels really great. When I look back at my journey, I feel I’ve come a long way and I’m only hoping that it’ll be all the way up from here now.
In terms of experience, when I worked as a child artiste, I think it helped me to overcome my fear of the camera at a very early age. But then I took a break for about 15 years to complete my education. Now, when I’m starting all over again, it actually feels like starting from scratch. Everything is fresh and new for me now. And the entire process which led me to this film has been very new and refreshing. So, yeah, it feels very good.
Q. You said that there was a gap in between when you were not in front of the camera. Did it ever occur to you to take up a different profession or were you determined to make a comeback?
A. Yes, I always wanted to become an actor. I think I realised quite early on that my passion and my calling has been towards cinema and the industry. Even when I was completing my studies, I have always thought about that. This is the only thing that I want to work towards, and want to direct all my focus and energy into. Even during my academic years, I’ve always been working on myself, developing skills, learning more about acting and trying to do workshops, so that I am better prepared to appear in front of the camera.
Q. Tell us about your character in Mystery of the Tattoo, and also your experience of working with noted actors like Arjun Rampal, Ameesha Patel, Manoj Joshi and Daisy Shah…
A. In Mystery of the Tattoo, I play the character of Vikarn Abhimanyu, who is one of the leading barristers in the UK. He is so smart and vigilant that he’s able to solve difficult cases with the help of just a few clues. The plot of the film revolves around my character, who witnesses a murder when he was very young, and the memory of that stays with him through his teenage years and early adult life.
Later, Vikarn comes across a girl who is an art therapist (somebody who helps people suffering from mental illness through art). And he finds out that her life is in danger because of the same person who was responsible for the murder that he witnessed during his childhood. Thus, he leaves everything aside and tries to help that girl. In a way, through the therapist, he tries to unravel the mystery behind the murder that had happened years ago and also tries to understand why the killer is behind this girl now. That’s character in a nutshell.
As somebody who’s making a debut as a lead actor, it’s been a really great experience working with all the senior actors in the film. Initially, I was very nervous on the set, because I wanted to make sure that no mistakes happen from my end.
I would try my best to assure that I am capable of handling the lead role. And then, when I entered the set, I found everyone very down to earth, humble and welcoming. Be it Arjunji, Ameeshaji or Daisyji, they never made me feel like I’m a newcomer or that this is my debut film. They have always helped me with my performance as well as preparing for my scenes - how our scenes together can come out in a way that I remain the main focus and my performance looks better. Even during breaks or when the camera was not rolling, I remember we all would sit and talk about films and other stuff. They were so invested in me as well as genuinely interested in getting to know me. That always felt good. These experiences made me feel very lucky. It’s surreal to have met such great people in my first film itself. I think I’m really blessed to have had the opportunity to work with a team like this.
Q. In the age of OTT, how do you see the digital space helping in shaping the career of new-age actors like yourself?
A. I think OTT is a fantastic medium to bring out better and improved content for the audience. Even for people who cannot go to the theatres and enjoy a good film, digital platforms have made movies and shows accessible for them. We all are seeing the growth of OTT.
Personally, I think whatever role comes my way, be it OTT or theatrical releases, I’m going to approach and accept that in a positive way. I want to focus more on how well my performance can be, and how well the audience can receive everything that I’m trying to give them in terms of cinema.
Q. Any particular character that you aspire to play on screen? Or any film or show that you watched recently that has inspired you in a certain way?
A. I recently watched Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, and I think it was great. I believe the Karan Johar directorial [starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt] has the true essence of Bollywood. Of course, we can counter that by saying there are a lot of other films that are better content or script wise, but this romantic comedy family drama is a true Bollywood film. It’s all about the feeling that you get as an audience while watching this movie. So, I think if I ever get to be a part of such a film that would be fantastic.
When it comes to OTT shows, I really enjoyed watching the series Breathe. Everyone has performed so well in it. Recently, I started watching Guns & Gulaabs, and I think it’s great. The essence of the show is superb. Given the beautifully written scripts and the variety of content available on OTT, it’s really difficult to choose a favourite among that. You have to just enjoy everything and try to learn from all the senior actors who are performing in these movies and shows.
Q. You are also part of a movie called Super Woman, starring Tigmanshu Dhulia and Poonam Dhillon. How would you describe that experience?
A. The story of Super Woman is based on a social subject - asexuality. The film is directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Zaigham Imam. The motive behind the making of this movie is to raise awareness about asexuality, because there are a lot of people out there who have not even heard of this term. There are very few projects that have attempted to address this topic or focus on the life of asexual people - particularly the trauma and struggle they have to go through every day, and how their family and loved ones are also affected by it. Through Super Woman, the makers are trying to show people how we can positively approach this subject and not discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation.
Q. Of late, a number of mystery thrillers have been released on OTT. What, according to you, is the USP of Mystery of the Tattoo?
A. If you have seen the trailer, the best thing about Mystery of the Tattoo is that there might be moments when you feel that you have figured out how the film is going to end or what the track of the narrative is. But let me assure you that until the last scene or the climax, you cannot tell what has actually happened, how things in the film have been connected and what the real reason is or who the real people are behind everything that has happened.
So, I think, that suspense factor will keep audiences glued to their seats. As soon as there’s a moment where you feel that you have figured it out, a new twist comes up and you’ll be like, ‘Okay, now this has happened. So, what’s next’. This, I believe, is the true essence of a thriller. And that is the kind of mystery that we have in this film.
Q. In the future, do you wish to be part of more mystery thrillers and romcoms?
A. As an actor, I don’t want to stick to any specific genre. I am interested in exploring different stories and characters. I think it’s always better to keep trying out different roles that help to bring out more versatility in terms of my performance and as an actor.