Ashutosh Rana yelled in happiness after Dushman was offered to him, says 'mujhe chota bada kaisa bhi role dedo, I’ll do it with the same zeal'

Ashutosh Rana has been one of those actors who can ace just about any role offered to him. The actor has been a part of the industry for decades now, but it was with his performance in Dushman that he sealed his place in the industry. In fact, his portrayal of the menacing character can still give goosebumps to those who have watched it. Now, he has opened up about how he got the role in the film, and how hungry he is to perform. 

In a recent Humans Of Bombay post, Ashutosh Rana spoke about his journey in the Hindi film industry. He revealed, “I was 4 when I first performed on a stage; I always enjoyed the spotlight! I'd even take part in local Ram-Leela plays–playing Ravan. My parents attended all my plays! Papa would say, ‘Follow this passion, it’ll lead to happiness.’ His words became my mantra.
And so after I graduated school, with my spiritual Guru’s encouragement, I joined NSD; honing my skill as an actor fulfilled me. And when I felt ready, I came to Mumbai to live my dream.
The first few weeks were spent commuting from one corner to another, looking for work. And it was during one of these auditions that I met Mr. Mahesh Bhatt . He offered me a role in ‘Swabhimaan’, a television serial! That was my 1st break! I couldn’t wait to see myself on screen! Papa told me, ‘I know your talent, make the most of this opportunity!’
I tried to live upto my potential & when I saw myself on screen… I still get shivers when I think of that feeling. "

He continued, "After Swabhimaan, I got a lot of work! And although I wished to get longer screen time, maine chhote kaam bhi bade man se kiye.
One practice I followed was never comparing my journey with other actor’s. And so, after 4 years of persevering, one day Mahesh Sir called me to his office & offered me the lead role as a villain in ‘Dushman!’ I was so overwhelmed that I asked him, ‘Can I scream?’ When he said yes, I yelled with happiness! Then I promised Sir, ‘I’ll win you a Filmfare award,’ And I did! I recall giving my ‘Thank you’ speech; it felt surreal…"

He further added, "And since Dushman’s release, my career took off! Every role I’ve played is etched in my heart– be it Agrawal in Ghulam or Nityanand in Simmba. And my latest role as an ex-cop, who carries the baggage of an unsolved case from the past in ‘Aranyak’ on Netflix is one of the most interesting parts I’ve ever played. My character’s passion & charisma is mesmerizing!
But I feel that way for all my roles. I love to act–mujhe chota bada kaisa bhi role dedo, I’ll do it with the same zeal. We’re entertainers. A person could be deeply upset, but if they see a great performance, for that moment, life is good again. Yeh superpower sirf actors ke paas hai!”

Ashutosh Rana was most recently seen in Netflix's web series Aranyak, where he played an ex-cop Mahadev Dogra.