Rajkummar Rao Reflects on His Mentors and Journey on Gurupurnima: “I Owe Everything to My Teachers”
Actor Rajkummar Rao, known for his powerhouse performances and grounded persona, took a moment on Gurupurnima to reflect on the people who’ve helped shape his life and career. At 40, the actor isn’t just a trained performer—he’s also a skilled Taekwondo artist and a trained dancer. And on this special day, he attributes his achievements to the guidance of multiple teachers who walked with him through different stages of life.
“I don’t have just one guru—I have many,” Rajkummar says with deep gratitude. “My martial arts teacher Mr. Yamin, my dance teachers Kamaljeet ma’am and Madhusudhan sir—they’ve always supported me. And of course, all the teachers at Sri Ram Centre and FTII taught me so much about the craft of acting.”
His appreciation isn’t just professional. The Maalik actor recalled personal moments when his teachers stepped in during tough times. “Many of my school teachers paid my fees when I couldn’t afford it. That kind of support—you never forget. Teachers played a major role in my early life,” he shared.
When asked if he’s still in touch with them, he smiles and says, “Some of them, even now, yes.”
Rajkummar, who recently announced he’s expecting his first child with wife Patralekhaa, believes good mentorship is essential. “You are only as good as your teacher and what you absorb from them. I’ve been fortunate to have brilliant mentors.”
Shifting focus to his professional journey, Rajkummar is excited about venturing into a new space with his latest film Maalik, which hit theatres this weekend. Known for playing emotionally rich and layered characters, this marks the first time he’s stepping into an aggressive action-driven role.
“I go with my gut when choosing scripts,” he explains. “With Maalik, I felt the story had real strength. The character is ferocious and raw—it took me out of my comfort zone, and I loved that challenge.”
With new projects on the horizon and a new chapter beginning in his personal life, Rajkummar Rao continues to evolve—with the quiet strength of someone who knows where he came from, and who helped him get there.