In the competitive landscape of OTT space, breakout performances often come from the darkest of roles. Ramandeep Yadav, the latest talent to capture the audience’s attention, has done exactly that with his chilling performance as Rajjo in the recently released web series, Raakh. While the show delves into complex and intense narratives, Ramandeep’s transformation into a character grappling with masculinity, addiction, and suppressed rage has earned him critical acclaim. As he navigates the industry, his journey from smaller roles to this opportunity reflects the dedication of an actor who views acting not just as a job, but as a deep, immersive process. We sat down with the actor to discuss the weight of his latest role, the art of character building, and his aspirations in an industry that is finally taking notice of his craft.
When approaching the role of Rajjo, a character defined by intense darkness and a troubled psyche, Ramandeep prioritized creating a backstory to ground his performance. He felt it was important to justify Rajjo’s descent into brutality rather than playing it as a surface-level villain. To achieve this, he crafted a detailed mood board, which included unconventional inspirations like the survival instincts of cockroaches and the expressions of legendary actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, and Jitendra. This dedication extended to his daily life during the shoot, where he maintained his in-zone headspace so seriously that even his roommates were occasionally scared by his commitment to his character’s dark frequency. When they would wake up and see his mood board, they would tell him jokingly, “you ruin our day.”
For Ramandeep, being cast in a story inspired by the controversial and chilling Ranga Billa case brought a sense of responsibility rather than fear. He explained his mindset, saying, “I wasn’t scared to be a part of this story. I felt a lot of responsibility. Having spent years auditioning and honing my craft, I saw this as a definitive moment to prove my mettle. The success in this series is a proof of the hard work of countless new actors in Mumbai who wait for a single opportunity to showcase their potential.”
His off-screen experience was equally rewarding, particularly the support he received from co-stars like Ali Fazal and the humble camaraderie he shared with actor Akash Makhija. He described their bond with humour, mentioning, “While I enjoyed our time together, Akash would playfully remark, “give me some personal space.”
Beyond the screen, Ramandeep is a passionate sports enthusiast who played cricket at the district level. When asked about his favourite cricketers, he shared a long list of names that he admires: “I like Dale Steyn a lot apart from Morne Morkel, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Arshdeep Singh is a good friend of mine. I like fast bowlers.”
Despite his recent streak of grey and intense roles, Ramandeep shared how he remains versatile and eager to explore different genres, including comedy. He concluded saying, “I am looking toward the future and the focus is on maintaining the standard I have set for myself. I keep drawing inspiration from icons like Irrfan Khan and Randeep Hooda, and I am to continue telling stories that resonate with viewers everywhere.”
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