Sarabhai actor Rajesh Kumar talks about class system, star insecurity on film sets
Actor Rajesh Kumar opens up about the class system on film sets, saying only a few voices take decisions while others are sidelined. He also talked about insecurities among the lead actors and recalled how lack of rehearsals and conversations affected the performances.
Actor Rajesh Kumar, famous for the role of Rosesh in the TV show Sarabhai vs Sarabhaihas revealed about the hierarchical structure prevalent on film sets. He shared that lead stars often do not interact with supporting cast members, highlighting a class system that impacts the creative process.
In a candid chat with YouTuber Aftab Puntu, Rajesh revealed that decisions on a film set are mainly taken by the lead actor, director and cinematographer. The contributions of other cast and crew members are often sidelined.
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On big sets, only a few voices matter.
He said, “If you go to a big film set, there are only four or five people who discuss everything: the director, the cinematographer, the lead actor and the lead writer. The experiences of the rest of the crew and cast don’t count.”
explains the lack of rehearsal
The 51-year-old actor expressed concern over the lack of interaction between the lead actors and the supporting cast. He praised veteran actors like Amitabh Bachchan, who used to rehearse with the entire team. This is a practice which he now finds lacking in contemporary cinema.
He said, “In recent times, I have not seen even a single lead actor rehearsing with us. He either rehearses with the writer or with his assistant. He has absolutely no interaction with the other actors.”
Insecurity affects performance
Rajesh also touched upon the insecurities of the lead actors. He noted that many lead actors feel threatened by the supporting cast, leading to tactics such as having secondary actors provide dialogue at the last minute. He believes that this hinders the performance and overall quality of the film. He shared an anecdote about a lead actor who refused to interact with him and depended on assistants for conversation.
Rajesh finally said, “All I am saying is that we need to be free from this system.”
The actor has gained recognition through several TV shows like Baa Bahu Aur Baby and web series like Kota Factory. Recently he was seen in films soldier And carefree.