Indian artist Raghav Juyal as Fani in Guneet Monga’s ‘Kill’.
He began his onscreen career with reality TV shows and is now being praised worldwide for his act in the recently released Hindi film Kill. Indian actor Raghav Juyal’s skills are getting him recognition from across the globe. In an exclusive interview, Juyal talks about the hard work and fun that went into the making of his character, Fani, in the film directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat.
Kill premiered at Toronto International Film Festival last year and has been making waves across the globe ever since. It also went to Tribeca Film Festival last month. It is also set for an English remake by 87 Eleven Entertainment and Lionsgate which have earlier collaborated on John Wick films.
Kill released in theatres on July 5. The big-budget epic Kalki 2898 AD was already in theatres at the time, but Guneet Monga’s Kill managed to secure a steady run at the box office. Even after the release of Akshay Kumar’s Sarfira and Kamal Haassan’s Hindustani 2, the film continues to attract footfalls in the theatres and has scored above $4 million in two weeks at the box office.
Before featuring in Kill, Juyal worked in many films including ABCD 2 and Street Dancer 3D. In this interview, he talks about the box office performance of Kill, his preparation and inspiration for the role; and reveals how his father helped him empathize with the character and make it more fun. Here is an excerpt:
Did you seek any film references while preparing for Fani in Kill?
Raghav Juyal: I think it is dangerous for an actor to take references from films. Because then they lose their individuality as an actor. Watching documentaries is much better than watching a film for a character, I believe. I did a lot of psychological preparation. I sat with the director and talked to him, asked him random questions like, ‘Is the character religious or not?’
Someone said if Heath Ledger is in Hollywood, then India has Raghav Juyal. That is a good comparison, and a compliment for me. I have met a lot of people who have complimented me. Anurag Kashyap (Gangs of Wasseypur, Manmarziyaan) sir messaged me and said I have done path-breaking acting. He also said he will meet me after he returns to Mumbai. There are a lot of doors that are now opening up for me. It feels good. Someone even said I am the villain of the year.
How do you see the film’s box office performance?
Kill came out with a film like Kalki 2898 AD that had a budget of $20-30 million. Ours is a small budget film. They have (big stars such as) Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Prabhas. Despite all that, we are able to bring the audience to the theatres. It is a huge achievement for all of us. Now even Akshay Kumar has come to the halls (Kumar’s new film Sarfira released), and Kamal Hassan also came with Indian 2. So, the screens are even more divided. It is crazy that people still want to watch a small film like Kill.
This is your first major role in a feature film that helps you showcase talent beyond your dancing skills. Were you more elated, or more apprehensive when you got the offer to play the main antagonist in Karan Johar-Guneet Monga’s production?
Raghav Juyal: I was elated, because this was my first opportunity to show to the world that I can act. You don’t get that by playing a hero, playing the villain is the best option. There is a lot of space to play with, you get to explore a lot as an actor. And it’s a great character to play. I was really excited. I knew that if this works out, then it can make my career.
Would you like to share the details of the discussions you had with your director before you began working on Kill?
Raghav Juyal: I have a habit of forgetting the details after a few months and I find it boring to talk about, but I would like to tell you. We did the physical preparation for nine months. I read the script 80-90 times. There would be some new discovery each time I read the script. We would uncover a new nuance or a new behavior trait each time. I also got the chance to work with action director Mr. Se-Yeong Oh. I understood the rhythm of the character to incorporate it physically. It took me around two and a half months.
I also sought help from my father. He is a criminal lawyer. He told me ‘No one looks like a criminal; everybody is a human being. In the eyes of the law, no one is a criminal unless proven guilty.’ Then I told myself, ‘Why do I have to think whether I am a villain or a criminal? I just have to see that character, empathize with it.’
I read a lot of newspapers from the late 90s and early 2000s about dacoits who were famous as ‘Kacchadhari Gang’ – gang of those wearing underwear. It was all professional for them – these dacoits in the northern region of India would apply oil on their bodies before their attack and some even did weird things at the houses that they attacked. (Likewise,) My character could not think he was doing something wrong. His father taught him how to be a dacoit and he wanted to excel in it. Therefore, that dialogue of Fani’s where he chides his father for talking about morals. That was not written, basically.
Was that dialogue your addition?
No, the part was written where I say ‘Hum dacait hai, koi Amitabh Bachchan nahi (We are villains, not Amitabh Bachchan)’. That part was written, then I got carried away during the shoot and added the portion ‘usoolon ki baliyan chadha rahe hain (as if sacrificing principles)’. That was not written, it just happened on sets.
Fani’s sense of humor was very dark and sarcastic. As an actor, I had to empathize with my character and not be too aware of the fact that I am playing a villain. In fact, in the end, the army officer killed 40 people and Fani is the innocent one! There was a very thin line, the politics of the film is crazy that way.
Did your efforts to understand and empathize with your character affect you off sets?
No. Not at all. My parents stay with me, and I knew I have to go home where I can’t be Fani. This character didn’t do that to me. I’m doing another film called Yudhra. That affected me a little, because it had more. I’ll talk about it that when the film comes. But this one didn’t. This was really flowy and fun actually.
(This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
