Akash Mahijja He may currently be making headlines for his chilling portrayal of Babu in crime thriller Raakh, but the actor says his journey to recognition was filled with heartbreak, rejection and constant struggle. As the audience applauded him for playing one of the most hated characters on screen, Mahija revealed that there was a time when he was shocked to be replaced at the last minute of a Rajshri film.In a conversation with Mid Day, the actor opens up about the setbacks that shaped his career, his early days chasing auditions in Mumbai, and why making it in the entertainment industry has never been easy.
From McDonald’s washroom to playing Babu in Raakh
Akash said he has been fascinated by acting since his childhood. One of his favorite roles growing up was Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri, played by Paresh Rawal. Looking back now, he finds it interesting that his breakthrough role in Raakh was also a character named Babu.Recalling his struggling days, the actor said he traveled from Ulhasnagar to Mumbai almost every day for auditions, trying to build his career while surviving on limited pocket money.“I once got a student rail pass at a 50 per cent discount. I would go to McDonald’s outside Andheri station and freshen myself up in the washroom. For a long time, that was my vanity.”Akash shot over 100 commercials before landing major acting roles and accepted every opportunity that came his way, hoping that one project would change his destiny.
Losing a Rajshri film left him in tears
While Akash is now winning accolades for his performances in projects like Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi, Gram Chikitsalay and Raakh, he reveals that the road to success also included painful disappointments.The actor revealed that he was cast as one of the leads in a Rajshri production but lost the project without any warning.“I was selected as one of the leads in a Rajshri film. One day, I was shooting for an advertisement and I got a text message, not even a call, saying that they were releasing me.” This sudden decision left him emotionally shattered.“This field is brutal. I was on another set when this happened and the director asked me to say my lines. I asked for a five-minute break and went to the bathroom to cry. “He further revealed that rejection came in different forms throughout his career. “There was also a time when I wasn’t chosen for the show because of my zodiac sign.”
“Raakh” became the breakthrough he almost didn’t achieve
Interestingly, Akash was not the original choice to play Babu in Raakh. Nearly 800 actors auditioned for the role, and although he was initially rejected, fate ultimately worked in his favor.According to the actor, another actor was already cast and the producers unexpectedly brought him on board a week later. Mahija, who has gone through similar setbacks himself, said he sympathizes with actors who have lost projects after lockdown.Today, his gruesome portrayal of the Babu has become one of the most talked about aspects of Rach. The actor joked that viewers started calling him “the most annoying man on the internet,” with many even comparing his performance to Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones.Ali Fazal also stars, Sonali BenderRamandeep Yadav, Aamir Bashir and Rakesh Bedi’s Raakh is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
