Rajesh Tailang Interview: Mukkabaaz is the first film one should watch to start a great New Year ahead!

It is true that in a star-obsessed society like ours, films sell on the stardom of an actor and hence, the audience fails to take notice of almost every character actor that we see roaming around in a film. But it has also been seen, more often than not, that in certain films character actors walk away with all the thunder with their impeccable acting skills. One such artist, who has impressed the audience with his hefty talent, is Rajesh Tailang . After appearing in some national and international films like Dev , Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Tailang will next be seen in Anurag Kashyap 's Mukkabaaz . In an exclusive interview with BollywoodMDB, the talented actor opens up about his film, director Anurag Kashyap and what makes Mukkabaaz a must watch for all cinema lovers.

Q. What is your role in Mukkabaaz? Please, brief us a little about it.

A. According to me, Mukkabaaz is a love story set against the backdrop of casteism and sports politics in India. I play the father of the main protagonist brilliantly played by Vineet Kumar. Vijay Singh, the character I play, is a failed and unsuccessful person in terms of societal norms. He is a small time electrician. Once he had big dreams but now he has become bitter and cynical. He thinks what his son is doing is a waste of time and hence, never encourages his son for boxing. The father-son relationship goes to a transformation as the situations in the film progresses.

Q. What are your expectations from the film?

A. Mukkabaaz had screenings in Toronto Film Festival and MAMI Festival at Mumbai. I got good reviews and encouraging response for my performance. On 12th January next year when it hits screens in India I hope audiences will like my performance too.

Q. How was working with Anurag Kashyap? Is it your first film with him?

A. Working with Anurag Kashyap is a dream come true for every actor. So it was not any different for me. I know him for a long time but this is the first time I worked with him. He is a great director as we all know but at heart, he is an actor and writer. So this aspect of him helps you while working with him. He knows problems of acting and comes up with suggestions which are doable and helps you to build your performance. He gives his actors a lot of space and lets you improvise. Sometimes he gives a piece of paper with freshly written dialogues then and there. So as an actor you can’t be prepared beforehand. This is a challenge and at the same time, it gives your performance a freshness and spontaneity.

Q. Please share if there was any special moment while shooting?

A. Obviously, when you get into a collaborative work where your opinions are also taken with respect and you are not just following instructions, one feels empowered. One enjoys. We shot mostly in Bareilly and Varanasi. So an outdoor shoot where the whole unit unites in a way where you feel like you are having a working holiday. I really enjoyed scenes with Vineet who plays my son. The father-son scenes are funny yet convey a lot of realities of human nature.

Q. What is your prediction for Mukkabaaz?

A. I think Mukkabaaz is a true Anurag Kashyap film. I am sure it will strike the right chord with audiences because it has great performances, great script and direction and raises a lot of questions about present society in a captivating and interesting way. Mukkabaaz is the first film one should watch to start a great new year ahead.