EXCLUSIVE: Raghav Juyal on action & emotion in Kill, Gyaarah Gyaarah & more

Few can navigate on-screen transformations as seamlessly as Raghav Juyal. Known for his lively dance and goofy hosting, Raghav has shifted towards dramatic roles, immersing himself in complex characters. His roles in Kill, Yudhra and Gyaarah Gyaarah won him plaudits. Despite battling a fever, Raghav takes the time to discuss his evolving acting career with me. In our exclusive interview, he shares insights into his transition from dancing and hosting to acting, the challenges he faced in embodying his new characters, the atmosphere on the set and his experiences working with renowned directors. Here are some excerpts:

You’ve transformed from a goofy host on television to a supervillain in Kill and Yudhra. Gyaarah Gyaarah is also intense.

I never thought about this. I just remained in the moment and enjoyed what I was doing. When I started dancing or hosting, I enjoyed them from the bottom of my heart. I started training myself as an actor and did a lot of plays and scene works with my teachers and coaches. I thoroughly enjoyed the process. I enjoyed giving auditions and now I’m enjoying films and these unique characters. I’m thankful that there is a casting culture here, otherwise it would have been difficult to get chances.

Was your shift to acting a calculated move?

No. Art is always spontaneous and unpredictable. I used to enjoy watching films since childhood. Back at home, in Dehradun, we would be excited to watch something on a single screen. Bunking school and going to watch a film was fun. This was the only thing that made me happy. In fact, I understood my real passion when I started training. Then I saw Gangs Of Wasseypur and started working with Vijay Raaz sir. I really indulged in the craft and understood that it has a deeper meaning for me. I also understood that I would have to go deep inside myself to find my inner passion, that will translate on screen. When I found that out, I understood my passion for films, cinema and acting.

Gyaarah Gyaarah is your second collaboration with Guneet Monga and Karan Johar.

There was an audition for Gyaarah Gyaarah. At first, it was a difficult audition because my body language remained like my character in Kill. It was coming in subconsciously because I had prepared the body language and the rhythm of that character for nine months. So, it took some time to detach myself from that persona. I worked on it and gave a second audition. It happened smoothly then.

What intrigued you the most, the script of Gyaarah Gyaarah or your character in it?

I actually could not stop reading the script. I wanted to reach the end and read it in one go. I believe in the adage that the story is king and the script proved it to me again. Also, director Umesh Bisht’s sensitivity towards the scenes and characters was a learning experience. Moreover, my character was pretty challenging. Kill was challenging too but it was fun at the same time. But Yug in Gyaarah Gyaarah is traumatised by his past. He is driven by guilt and he questions his own motives at times. It took me some time to grasp that because we generally see the police as tough and honest. But Yug is vulnerable, sensitive and cries for things, yet he is handling a tough job. I have endured a lot in this series because of my intention to incorporate my character’s psyche. It has been a difficult journey for me. But looking at the love it’s getting, I’m happy with the results.

Did your parents visit you for the Gyaarah Gyaarah shoot as it was shot in your hometown?

Yes, since it was in Dehradun, my parents were able to visit me. It was shot near Ghanta Ghar. My parents hardly visited me on the sets in Mumbai, so this was special for me.

Were they always supportive of your career choices?

No. My parents were totally against it. I would have been in the army. The army jawans played football at a ground near our place. As a kid, I liked how fit and imposing they were. But I was also into plays since childhood. I loved performing on stage but my parents were against it. I was a dancer but at that time there was no recognition for dancers. They couldn’t understand that dance was an art form. It wasn’t their fault. Like any other middle-class parents, they wanted me to earn well and live a good life.

But you stuck to dancing despite the situation at home…

Discomfort makes way for growth, and that’s what happened to me. Also, backbenchers like me may fail or fall down but we know we have to get back up real quick.

They must have been worried about you..

Yes. They would wonder about my career in dancing. They were worried about me coming to Mumbai. This place was alien to us. I had no one to fall back on

Your younger brother has followed in your footsteps…

(Smiles) Yes, my brother Yashasvi is a filmmaker. He was recently there at the New York Film Festival. He is a festival-type filmmaker.

Were your parents equally strict with your brother when he announced his intention to become a filmmaker?

No, it was easier for him. I was mischievous as hell and didn’t do well academically in school. But my brother was great in his studies. He used to study at my mother’s school. In fact, my mother did not enrol me in her school because of my naughty ways. I came to Mumbai to work when I was 17 or 18 years. By the time my brother took up direction, my parents knew that people can be successful in the entertainment line. But it’s not all smooth sailing for my brother because he does not make commercial films. He has made eight films and has been to the New York Film Festival. He has won an award at the Dharamshala Film Festival. Everyone in the FTII knows him as a good filmmaker.

Did you get a cultural shock when you first came to Mumbai?

Yes, people call you in a weird way in Mumbai. They make a strange sound to call you. I couldn’t understand it for the first time. Also, once I asked a man for directions, and he told me, “Samne jaake signal padega. Uske paas ek flyover girega.” I was shocked because of the language. We usually don’t use girega, which means ‘fall’ to signify the position of a flyover. Life is also very fast-paced in Mumbai, unlike Dehradun. I once didn’t turn up for a shoot, when I was doing reality television. I realised later that I cannot do that. But now, I enjoy doing double shifts and sleeping in the vanity van.

Are you someone who delves deep into the psyche of the character?

If you are with a character for many months, trying to figure out the nuances and the behavioural patterns, you start empathising with them. You also start behaving like them. You feel those emotions for a longer time.

You are taking up unconventional characters. Is that a conscious choice?

Yes. It is a conscious choice because I love working on great stories. I’m also trying to work with good filmmakers.

How did you prepare for the action-packed scenes in Yudhra?

(Laughs) I have done a lot of action this year. The action in Yudhra is a mix of Tom Cruise and John Wick-type type action. Yudhra started before lockdown. Then we went to Portugal once the lockdown got over. I had to prepare for my character for three to four months. The preparation was both psychological and physical. I had to be in that zone and maintain my physicality.

Will we ever see you in a comedy or a romantic movie?

Absolutely! In Kill and Yudhra I was a hardened villain. In Gyaarah Gyaarah, I transitioned into a sensitive cop. I sense that audiences are eager to see my comedic side, so I’m excited to take on a project that will genuinely make people laugh.

Lastly, why are you also called Crockroaxz?

My friends told me that I needed a cool name in Mumbai. They suggested Crockroaxz but I did not know I would become so famous. Suddenly, the name was a rage and started trending after my dance videos surfaced on YouTube. So, Crockroaxz got attached to me. But I have a habit of changing my image and breaking my own stereotype. So perhaps people might give me another name soon. Who knows?n