From playing a radicalized youth in Faraz to a gritty gangster in Bambai Meri Jaan, Aditya Rawal has quickly become the go-to actor for intense, complex characters. His latest role in the series Daldal sees him diving into perhaps his most challenging role yet of Sajid, a man battling the issue of addiction.
In an exclusive chat with Filmfare, Aditya opened up about the scary scripts that draw him in, his unique “quarterback” analogy for co-star Bhumi Pednekar, and why he kept his writer’s hat miles away from a film set.
Diving into the Darkness of Sajid In Daldal
Aditya admitted that preparation is his favourite part of the craft, but for Daldal, he went a step further. To understand the core of an addict, he spent time at a rehab center outside Mumbai with a specialist named Brian. He shared, “”It was the absolute destruction of your confidence,” reflecting on what he learned about addiction. He added, “We all have certain defence mechanisms and walls we build to protect our pride. All of that just breaks completely. His self-esteem is at its lowest, and that was the one thing I held onto.”
Apart from mental preparation, it was physical too. Aditya recalls how his research helped refine the script. He said, “If the script said Sajid vomits here, after talking to Brian and our director Amrit, we realized in that situation you’d actually have an epileptic seizure or be foaming at the mouth. We were able to make those moments more nuanced.”
The “Quarterback” of the Set
Working on such a dark series requires a light environment off-camera, and Aditya credits his co-stars for keeping the energy high. He speaks particularly highly of Bhumi Pednekar, using a unique sports analogy to describe her leadership.
He mentioned, “A lead actor is like the quarterback. They are the leader among the players and they determine the mood and general energy of the team. The fact that Bhumi was so generous and loving while doing a role that is incredibly hard was a lesson for me.”
As for Samara Tijori, Aditya says they got along like a “house on fire,” noting that their mutual spirit of generosity made the intense scenes much easier to navigate.
The Actor-Writer Balance
While many know him as an actor, Aditya is also an accomplished writer, having written for Panipat and Siachen. However, don’t expect him to give notes on set. He clarified jokingly, “I make sure I take my writer hat off and keep it miles away from the set. The writer has done his job. Being a writer makes you a better actor because you understand what the script is trying to say, but on set, you have to commit totally as an actor.”
Legacy and the Road Ahead
Being the son of the legendary Paresh Rawal, Aditya is no stranger to the highs and lows of the industry. The best advice he’s received from his father is simple: “Put your head down and keep working.” Aditya shared, “He’s had such a long career. His advice is to forget the noise, the good and the bad. Your mind and body are your instruments, keep them as sharp as possible and just keep moving forward.”
With 2026 looking like a massive year, potentially featuring five releases, Aditya is ready to pivot. While he’s enjoyed the scary roles, he hints that his upcoming projects will see him playing characters that are diametrically opposite to his recent dark turns. He concluded saying, “For a change, people won’t be scared of me!”
Also Read: Daldal Trailer: Bhumi Pednekkar Hunts a Ruthless Serial Killer in This Gritty Crime Thriller
