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Being an outsider meant finding my own way into the film industry: Sai Ketan Rao
Actor Sai Ketan Rao, known for his roles in Hindi television shows such as Mehendi Hai Rachne Waal,Imlie, as well as the web series Suraag2.0, has steadily built a career across Telugu and Hindi <a href="https://comicvibe.com/webtoon-entertainment-wbtn-stock-may-be-trading-at-a-premium-on-raised-q4-guidance/” title=”WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) Stock May Be Trading At A Premium On Raised Q4 Guidance”>entertainment. But long before the television appearances and screen credits, his journey began in Hyderabad. Having navigated the uncertainties of being an outsider and the challenges of finding work, Rao speaks to usabout his journey, his approach to choosing projects and the characters he hopes to explore next.
‘Hyderabad is where my acting journey began’With his mother from Hyderabad and father from Mumbai, Rao has always had a connection to both cities. However, it was Hyderabad that gave him his first opportunity to pursue acting. Having discovered his interest in the profession during his school years, he joined Ramanaidu Film School in 2017, after completing his engineering degree and MBA. Finding work after training, however, was another story. “I didn’t know whom to approach or where to start. I started visiting production offices in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills, submitting photographs and auditioning whenever casting calls came up. I also participated in workshops and theatre productions. That’s how I built contacts and learnt about the industry,” he recalls.‘Once you are an outsider, you are an outsider’Without any film industry connections, Rao says breaking into the industry was among his biggest challenges. “I don’t come from a film background where a relative or a parent can recommend me to a production house. It takes a lot of time to get inside,” he says. The uncertainty was particularly difficult when he saw his college friends moving abroad and taking up jobs. The pandemic further derailed his plans, leaving him without the projects he had signed. “There was a point when I thought acting might not happen. But I kept thinking the projects would eventually take off. I decided to stay the course and continue acting, even if it meant waiting a little longer for things to fall into place,” he says.
I enjoy intense, emotionally layered characters and hope to explore diverse roles, from an Indian James Bond to someone like Don
Sai Ketan Rao
‘Unconventional stories are what audiences love to watch now’Having explored television, films and web series in Telugu and Hindi, Rao says he finds greater creative room in the latter two mediums. “In web series and films, you have a broader spectrum to explore yourself as an actor. There’s a lot of creative writing, and you can experiment more. People don’t always want to see conventional things. Unconventional stories are what audiences love to watch now,” he says. He also points to the changing formats of Hindi television, where finite-format shows are increasingly finding space. “When a television show is constantly concerned with TRPs, the writing changes according to its ratings. You end up diluting the story, and audiences lose interest. That’s why they’re experimenting with different formats, and I’m loving that.”
I want to explore every genre and work across languages. As an actor, I don’t want to limit myself to either
Sai Ketan Rao
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