Veteran actor Rajeev Verma, known for his iconic roles in films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and Koi... Mil Gaya, has opened up about his gradual departure from mainstream Bollywood and television. Despite being one of the most recognizable father figures on screen, Verma revealed that the repetitive nature of his roles eventually drained his passion for acting.
Loss of Interest in Routine Work
In a recent interview with Dear Generation, Rajeev admitted that the monotony of his career made him lose interest. He said, "Dheere-dheere maza aana band ho gaya tha. Bas routine kaam tha ki yaar chalana hai Mumbai mein hai toh karein, yahi karte rahein." The actor explained that he felt disconnected from his work long before he decided to step away. He shared, "Mujhe lagne laga tha ki yaar ab main chalta hoon, ab main nahi karta. Maza nahi aa raha mujhe. Waise bhi koi zarurat nahi thi. Hotel mera ek chhota sa hai yahan, woh chalta hai, daal roti hai, khush hain."
Typecasting in Bollywood
Rajeev also addressed how Bollywood often typecasts actors after a successful role. He remarked, "Ek tarah ka character aapne kar liya toh phir jo banane wale hain woh zyada nahi sochte. Woh sochte hain ‘pita ke role mein kaun chal raha hai?’ Aur phir aap category mein fix ho jaate hain." Following the blockbuster success of Maine Pyar Kiya, producers repeatedly approached him with similar rich businessman or father roles. He recalled, "Har film mein wahi milta tha. Maine poocha character kya hai? Toh kehte the, ‘Sir wahi jo aapne usmein kiya tha.’ Toh maine kaha main chhod deta hoon, mujhe maza nahi aa raha tha. Theatre ka aadmi tha."
Television Became Like Office Work
The actor further shared that daily television schedules began to feel like an office routine rather than a creative pursuit. He said, "Subah pahunch jaaiye aur raat ke 10 baje ghar aaiye. Phir maine daftar ki tarah rule kar liya tha ki 10 baje pahunchunga aur shaam 8 baje tak bas. Mujhe laga yeh toh routine ho gaya." This realization prompted him to shift his focus back to theatre, literature, and teaching drama.
Return to Theatre
Today, Rajeev Verma is actively involved with theatre and runs his own theatre group in Bhopal. He also teaches drama and conducts workshops. He emphasized, "Mujhe kitaabein padhne ka bahut shauk hai... theatre mera passion hai." He now aims to use theatre as a medium for creating positive social impact. The veteran actor stressed that theatre and performing arts should be essential tools for emotional sensitivity and communication, even in professions like policing, medicine, and administration.
Prioritizing Family and Friends
Rajeev added that after decades of non-stop work, he wanted to spend more time with family and friends. He noted, "Yaar doston se milna, shaadi byaah mein jaana, rishtedaron se milna, family ke saath waqt guzarna... yeh sab almost negligible ho gaya tha." His decision to step away from the limelight was driven by a desire for a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Rajeev Verma's journey serves as a reflection on the challenges of typecasting in the entertainment industry and the importance of pursuing genuine passion over routine work.
