Tailor, Theatre, Then Filmfare | Bollywood's Favourite Dad Gajraj Rao Breaks It Down

Gajraj Rao — the actor who waited 25 years for Bollywood to notice him — sits down with Gaurav Arora on xMonks Drive for his most honest interview yet. Best known for his National Award and Filmfare Award-winning role as Jeetendra Kaushik in Badhaai Ho, Gajraj Rao opens up about his journey from a railway colony in Rajasthan to Delhi theatre to becoming one of Hindi cinema's most loved character actors.

In this episode, Gajraj Rao talks about his early struggles before fame — working as a tailor, writing for newspapers for a few hundred rupees, and getting rejected at hundreds of auditions alongside actors who are now household names. He shares rare, personal stories from the set of Bandit Queen with Shekhar Kapur, his 40-year friendship with Manoj Bajpayee, and an unforgettable backstage memory from their theatre days together. He also opens up about his father, the quiet lessons he learned at home, and how that shaped the man and actor he became.

Gajraj Rao reflects on his chemistry with Neena Gupta in Badhaai Ho, the hardest scene he ever shot, his preparation process as an actor, and his sharp, unfiltered opinion on what it really means to be a "character actor" versus a star in Hindi cinema. He also speaks about his decades-long career in advertising filmmaking that quietly supported him through his most uncertain years, and the one principle he says he never compromised on — his self-respect.

This conversation covers his most celebrated films and shows — Badhaai Ho, Talvar, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Maidaan, Dabba Cartel, Dupahiya — and the people who shaped his career, including Manoj Bajpayee, Ashish Vidyarthi, Neena Gupta, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Ajay Devgn.

Whether you know him as the dad from TVF's Tech Conversations with Dad, Kaushik Saab from Badhaai Ho, or one of Bollywood's most respected character actors, this episode of xMonks Drive gives you the most complete, honest, and personal conversation with Gajraj Rao yet.

🎙️ Watch the full episode for stories on Bollywood, struggle, fame, friendship, and self-respect — straight from one of Hindi cinema's most underrated actors.

▶️ Subscribe to xMonks Drive for more honest, in-depth conversations with India's most interesting minds.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Green Room Dedication
00:19 Building Onscreen Chemistry
00:33 Feeling Like a Servant
01:06 Badhaai Ho Breakthrough
02:57 Gratitude For The Team
04:01 Luck And Casting Journey
05:23 Where Characters Live
07:40 Hardest Scene To Play
09:17 Bandit Queen Set Lessons
13:21 Preparing For A Role
16:21 Staying Present On Set
17:38 Stars Versus Character Actors
20:14 Manoj Bajpayee Stories
23:42 Childhood Values And Equality
30:43 Choosing Theatre At 17
32:39 Early Career Humiliations
36:38 Pride Mentors And No Compromise
38:35 Closing Thanks

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