Akash Makhija is currently in the headlines for portraying Babu in the action thriller ‘Raakh’, but the actor says his journey to fame has been full of heartbreaks, rejections and constant struggles. While the audience is applauding her for playing one of the most hated characters on screen, Makhija revealed that there was a time when she was changed from Rajshri’s film at the last minute, leaving her disappointed.In an interview with Mid-Day, the actor revealed the hurdles that changed his career, his early days chasing auditions in Mumbai and why success in entertainment is not always easy.
From McDonald’s toilet to playing Babu in ‘Raakh’
Akash also said that acting has fascinated him since childhood. One of her favorite characters growing up was Baburao Ganpatrao Apte from ‘Hera Pheri’, played by Paresh Rawal. Looking back now, he finds it interesting that his breakthrough role in ‘Raakh’ was a character called Babu.Recalling his tough days, the actor said he traveled from Ulhasnagar to Mumbai almost every day for auditions, surviving on meager pocket money while trying to make a career.“I used to get a student railway pass for fifty percent. I used to go to the McDonald’s outside Andheri Station to prepare myself in the washroom. For a very long time, it was pointless.”Before taking on senior roles, Akash worked in more than 100 advertising projects and accepted every opportunity that came his way, hoping that one project would change his fortune.
Losing Rajshri’s film left him in tears
Although Akash is now praised for performances like ‘Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi’, ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ and ‘Raakh’, he revealed that the road to success included painful disappointments.The actor revealed that he was selected to play a role in Rajshri’s production but dropped the role without warning.“I was cast in Rajshri’s film as one of the leads. One day, I was doing a promotional film, and I received a text message, even a phone call, that they were releasing me.” His sudden decision made him very sad.“This field is brutal. I was in a different place when this was happening, and the director told me to say my line. I asked for a five-minute break, went to the bathroom, and cried.”He said rejection came in many forms during his career. “There is also a time when I was not seen because of my horoscope.”
‘Raakh’ turned out to be an almost unearned success
Interestingly, Akash was not the first choice to play Babu in ‘Raakh’. About 800 participants participated in the study, and although they were rejected at first, the results helped him.According to the actor, another player was already finalized before he was unexpectedly brought in just one week later. Makhija also faced similar problems, he said he sympathizes with actors who lose their jobs after being locked up.Today, his shocking portrayal of Babu has become one of the most talked about features of ‘Raakh’. The actor joked that viewers have started calling him “the most hated person on the internet,” with many comparing his actions to Joffrey Baratheon from ‘Game of Thrones’.Also with Ali Fazal, Sonali BendreRamandeep Yadav, Aamir Bashir and Rakesh Bedi, ‘Raakh’ is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.