Yash Raj Films is famously protective of its antagonists, often cloaking them in secrecy until the big reveal. This was certainly the strategy for Prajesh Kashyap, the actor behind Ramanujan, the calculating mastermind and surprise villain of Mardaani 3. In the film, Prajesh`s character aligns with the fearsome matriarch Amma (portrayed by Mallika Prasad Sinha). In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, the actor reflects on his professional trajectory and the experience of going toe-to-toe with Rani Mukerji.
Prajesh Kashyap on bagging Mardaani 3
Prajesh, who was studying at Drama School Mumbai, maintains that he has no idea how YRF’s casting director, Shanoo Sharma, discovered him eight years ago. Thereafter, she called him to audition for various projects while he simultaneously pursued theatre. “She had more faith in my ability than I did!” He approached the audition for Mardaani 3 not expecting a callback, giving it his best and moving on, but fate had other plans. “This time I got lucky, and maybe I was at the right place at the right time. Prepared and hungry for a part like this,” he shares.
Prajesh was thrilled with his role. He elaborates, “It’s fun to play something dark. Of course, it’s very challenging. When I read the killing scene, I freaked out. I was like, ‘Dude, this is crazy.’ That was one of the scenes I had to do in my first audition. I always saw Ramanujan as a snake. He slithers his way through the narrative until he’s attacked! I was excited to bite into this extremely layered and meaty character. Unlike the villains we have seen, this one was not caricature-ish. His evil was more mental than physical, perhaps very close to the evil we see in real life.”
Prajesh Kashyap on working with Rani Mukerji
Prajesh, who had to take a few punches from Rani Mukerji in the film, states that he had to pinch himself multiple times while working with Rani. “I was star-struck!” However, he had no choice but to bottle up the excitement till the film’s release and not tell a soul about his association. The actor explains, “I was not supposed to let anybody know I`m doing this for a year. And that was so difficult. Rani ma’am is not just a fantastic actor, but I think she is a school in herself. Her vision for a scene is very clear. There have been instances where she helped me. This was my first attempt at such action, so I had to train hard, but she was simply outstanding.”
Prajesh feels overwhelmed with the newfound fame and acknowledges how there are many actors in the country still waiting for such an opportunity. “I feel validated as an actor. People are constantly writing to me and giving their love and support. I`m just trying to soak it in,” he concludes.
