Gajraj Rao - newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra

Actor Gajraj Rao Delights the Audience at Spoken Fest 2025 with a Humorous yet Powerful Narrative on Life’s Choices

Newsmantra — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:28:15 +0000

On the Mehfil stage at the Spoken Fest, Mumbai, the Badhaai Ho fame Gajraj Rao presented a thought-provoking and witty tale in his signature humorous style. It captured the unspoken struggles of chasing an unconventional dream in a world that values security over passion. The seasoned actor, who has carved a niche with his nuanced roles, delivered his story filled with raw emotion with a personal reflection on societal expectations and generational shifts. His words echoed a poignant truth about how the very phrases “Log Kya Kahenge”/ “Koi ladki nahi dega” that once shaped his own choices have now shaped his children’s paths.

Gajraj Rao took the audience back to 1989, painting a picture of a home where television and Doordarshan were the only source of entertainment, and stability was the ultimate goal. His father, like many of those times, believed in traditional success—secure jobs, government postings, and a steady pay check. They would often argue, with his father taunting him about being a theatre artist, insisting that destiny wouldn’t unlock with the stage but with a stable job—one that offered security, not uncertainty. But Gajraj had different dreams, ones that didn’t fit within the confines of a stable career. “Acting ki gaadi nahi chali toh patri change kar dunga, writer ban jaunga”, he would tell himself. (Translation: If the acting career doesn’t take off, I’ll switch tracks and become a writer.)

He hilariously recounted the taunts that once shaped his journey, the weight of expectations pressing down on him. “If you are so good for nothing, then log kya kahenge? Koi ladki nahi dega!” he mimicked his father, leaving the audience nodding and giggling in recognition. (Translation: If you are so good for nothing, what will people say? No one will give you a girl). However, these words weren’t just his father’s—they echoed through neighbours’ unsolicited advice and relatives’ knowing glances.

His immense love for cricket, especially watching Test matches with his friend, was yet another source of criticism. With a playful eye-roll, he recalled his father’s exasperated remarks: “Cricket ka itna shauk tha toh khel lete, sports quota mein admission mil jaata”.
(Translation: If you were so fond of cricket, you should have played—it could have gotten your admission through the sports quota.)

“Government job hone se future safe ho jaata hai, acting hobby ke liye theek hai”, said a relative, reinforcing the belief that stability was the only respectable path, while dreams like his were nothing more than fleeting indulgences. (Translation: A government job secures your future; acting is fine as a hobby.)

“What will people say? What will society say? These are the questions I’ve tried to solve since childhood”, he admitted with a smirk. While his friends followed conventional paths, securing stable jobs and structured lives, he was constantly reminded of what he lacked—certainty, predictability, and in their eyes, a respectable future. Compared to the sons of his father’s friends, cousins and relatives who studied hard and built steady careers, he was the outlier, the one who hadn’t ‘figured it out’.

But despite the doubt, Gajraj held his ground. And then, validation came unexpectedly—from an NRI relative who, unlike the others, expressed genuine excitement upon learning that Gajraj was pursuing dramatics. “Your son will be the first in our family to earn fame through the arts. You are very lucky”, he told Gajraj’s father, a sentiment that shifted the entire narrative at home. For the first time, his father, who had always dismissed the profession, seemed to see it in a new light. That single moment of support planted the idea that perhaps dramatics could be a real career choice.

Theatre was his calling, even if it meant enduring scepticism, struggling through rejections, and walking an uncertain road. The climb was slow, riddled with self-doubt, yet he pressed on, proving that passion could be a pursuit, not just a pastime.

And then, the irony. The same people who once warned him that “no girl would marry an actor” now proudly pointed at the screen when he appeared. The whispers of doubt had turned into murmurs of admiration. Society, once his biggest critic, had rewritten its own rules—because success, as it turns out, isn’t measured by stability. It’s measured by conviction.

Gajraj’s story wasn’t just about defying expectations; it was about rewriting them. And in doing so, he left the audience with a question of their own—what if we stopped asking, log kya kahenge?

With his effortless charm, storytelling prowess, and a lot of humour, Gajraj took the attendees through a journey of self-reflection and familial bonds, making them question not just the world around them, but also the world within. Each word resonated deeply, as the lines between personal experiences and universal truths blurred.

The atmosphere of Spoken Fest’s seventh edition was palpable. Building on the tradition of the previous six editions, the audience in Mumbai has strongly connected with the spirit of the festival. Spoken Fest once again became a sanctuary for those seeking deeper connections through words, drawing a community of listeners eager to experience the art of storytelling, poetry and music from India’s most cherished voices.

The post Actor Gajraj Rao Delights the Audience at Spoken Fest 2025 with a Humorous yet Powerful Narrative on Life’s Choices appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

Huma Qureshi, Ashish Vidyarthi, Gajraj Rao, and Divya Dutta Among Others Join Kommune Spoken Fest’s 7th Edition in Mumbai

Newsmantra — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 09:00:14 +0000

India-wide release, 9 January 2025: Kommune’s most celebrated and sought-after festival, Spoken Fest, gets bigger and bolder for its seventh edition. For the first time, the festival expanded its celebration of literature, music, and the transcending power of words to Shillong. It is all set to return to its roots in Mumbai for the two-day extravaganza on February 1st and 2nd, 2025 with a diverse array of artists.

The artist line-up comprises individuals who have made a mark and created a space for their talent to thrive. From the world of music to films to poetry, this remarkable lineup will regale the attendees, making it one of the most memorable beginnings of the year. Music has been an integral part of the festival, bringing some amazing voices from all over the country, which includes Wild Wild Women, actress Eisha Chopra and Meera Desai will join hands for an enchanting spoken word and music performance, along with The Aahvaan Project, Vidhya Gopal and Siddharth Pandit, as well as Snehdeep Singh Kalsi, enchanting the evening air with mesmerising performances. Joining this list of artists will be Raghubir Yadav + Naynesh Pimpale, Khasi Bloodz, Tapi Project, and ⁠Nush Lewis.

As music encapsulates time, words decorate it with its eternal charm. For the new season, the line-up of artists who will captivate the audience with a magical world of words comprises actors, YouTube stars, and creators: Huma Qureshi, Divya Dutta, Gajraj Rao, Faisal Malik, Paritosh R Tripathi, Ankush Bahuguna, Ahliya Bamroo, Suhani Shah, Ashish Vidyarthi, Nayab Midha, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Nikhil Taneja, Vivaan Shah, Srishti Shrivastava, Dr. Pallavi Mahajan, Naresh Saxena, Nidhie Sharma, Manu Rishi Chadha, and Anushka Bajpai Jain. Adding to this stellar lineup will be Aditya Rahbar, Ankita Shah, Nidhi Narwal, Amy Singh, ⁠Kalyanee Mulay, ⁠Rajat Sood, ⁠Abhinandan Sekhri, ⁠Laksh Maheshwari, Badal Sharma, Priya Malik, ⁠Ramneek Singh, Shweta Singh, Rytasha Rathore, Puja Sarup, ⁠and Shreeja Chaturvedi. From satire to stand-up comedy to poetry and spoken word pieces, this esteemed line-up will offer a rich blend of performances, embracing new voices and stories while celebrating its roots.

The energy of the previous editions of Spoken Fest deeply resonated with the Mumbai fans, intertwining the spirit of the city with some remarkable performances. Be it Faye D’Souza’s impeccable piece on justice or Babil Khan’s heartfelt tribute to Irrfan Khan, the festival has always ensured to platform diverse voices. The stories have always echoed the lives of the people in the maximum city, bringing everyone under the same sky immersing in stories and music.

Grab your tickets on Insider.in and join us at Jio Garden, Mumbai on February 1st and 2nd to witness the magic of storytelling, voices, and art like never before.

The post Huma Qureshi, Ashish Vidyarthi, Gajraj Rao, and Divya Dutta Among Others Join Kommune Spoken Fest’s 7th Edition in Mumbai appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

Rajkummar Rao-Bhumi Pednekar team up for Badhaai Ho sequel

Newsmantra — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 06:48:38 +0000

Bollywood actors Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar will step in the shoes of Ayushmann Khurrana and Sanya Malhotra as they set out to play lead roles in the sequel to Badhaai Ho. As per a report in The Times of India, Bhumi essays the role of a PT teacher while Rajkummar plays a solo male cop in a women’s police station.

The daily quoted Bhumi as saying, “Badhaai Ho is one of my favourite films in recent times, and it is really exciting to take this franchise forward. For me, the script is one of the best that I have ever come across, and I immediately wanted to do this film. My character again is strong, independent and author-backed, and it gives me a lot of scope to bring a very different and cool character to life. This time, too, the film will say something extremely relevant and relatable, but in a hilarious manner. I’m also excited to share screen space with Raj for the first time.” The film will go on floors by June and is likely to release next year.

Rajkummar also told the daily, “I have played a cop before, but never with this perspective. I look for layered characters and this is a perfect match. My character is surrounded by strong women at home and work, and that adds immense depth to his personality. Junglee Pictures’ Bareilly Ki Barfi was a fabulous experience for me. Badhaai Do is a reunion in many ways.”

This will be the first time Bhumi and Rajkummar will feature together in a film. Badhaai Ho enjoyed both commercial and critical success. Directed by Amit Sharma, Badhaai Ho also featured Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Surekha Sikri. It traces the story of a middle-aged couple who get pregnant, much to the shock and disappointment of their son.

The post Rajkummar Rao-Bhumi Pednekar team up for Badhaai Ho sequel appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

Ayushmann Khurrana Debuts as Gay Man in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

Newsmantra — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 07:21:59 +0000

Ayushmann Khurrana is all set to play a gay man in his next, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, and shared a new poster of the film ahead of its trailer release. The poster shows Ayushmann sitting in Jitendra’s lap, who is dressed as a groom and sitting on a throne, as the latter’s family members try to get a hold of them.

Ayushmann captioned the picture, “Kartik ka pyaar ho kar rahega Aman!” . While Ayushmann plays Kartik, Jitendra plays Aman in the film. The picture also shows Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao among those trying to stop Ayushmann from spoiling Jitendra’s wedding celebrations.

The moviegoers loved the new poster and showered it with praise. A fan said, “So many favourites in one frame. Looking forward to watching another masterpiece!” Another wrote, “Hahahahha awesome … can’t wait 2 see it … hope a kumar sanu song is in it too @ayushmannk ayushmanbhava !” One more viewer called the upcoming film a “Guarantee hit”.

Ayushmann will be seen playing the role of a gay man for the first time and feels the audience will connect with the film. He said, “Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is again one such script that will thoroughly entertain audiences and also deliver an important social message about inclusivity and individuality. Like all my films, it is again a full family entertainer. It’s a film that will touch the hearts of audiences and also entertain them to the fullest. I can’t wait for people to watch Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan because it is a story that everyone will connect to.”

He also said Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is a film that had to be made because of the impact that it can have on society. “It is an important film that had to be made and when I heard the narration, I was bowled over immediately with the impact it had on me. It’s funny, quirky, important from a social messaging point of view and it keeps one invested and engaged completely. It’s not everyday that you find a film like Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and I’m proud to be a part of this project,” he said.

The post Ayushmann Khurrana Debuts as Gay Man in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.