Rajkummar Rao says performing traumatic scenes in HIT took a toll on his mental health
Rajkummar Rao will be seen playing a police officer who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Hit: The First Case. The actor spoke about the experience of shooting for the role in an exclusive chat with IndiaToday.in. Rajkummar recollected that it was difficult because he had no personal experience of the same. He shared that as an actor, he did his research and tried his best to not go overboard with the portrayal.
‘SAW REFERENCE VIDEOS AS I HAD NO PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF PTSD’
Rajkummar Rao told IndiaToday.in, “It is very difficult. I had no idea about it [PTSD], because I have no personal experience of that. I would like to thank my director because he really researched a lot regarding the character and the baggage that he’s carrying in the film. As an actor, my job was to do my own research and my own homework. So I read, you know, pretty much about it, the whole PTSD and mental illness. I saw some reference videos of what actually happens in your body, and in your mind, I saw some interviews. And then I spoke to my director, he himself is a doctor, and he has seen people who are going through PTSD. Our job is to make it believable, and to do it, truthfully, and not take it over the board.”
He continued that he strived to make sure the character comes across as someone who is believable. “That was only thing we wanted to keep in mind that when it happens, people should feel for Vikram, that, you know, he’s actually going through so much baggage, but he’s still at his job. He’s still at it. He doesn’t want to just let go of it.”
‘IT DID GET MENTALL AND PHYSICALLY TAXING’
When asked if he had days when the scenes took a mental toll on his health, Rajkummar promptly nodded in agreement. “There were days, and it did get mentally very taxing, and physically also, because there were scenes which were pretty long. And you can’t just be like doing ‘ha ha hee hee’, and then action and you’re in that zone. So for me, especially while shooting such scenes, I need to prepare. I need to be in that mental space. I seek help using music. I don’t want anybody to disturb me. And, then it really does take a toll on you and it takes some time for you to get out of it. This happens because you’re really pushing your body and your mind to reach that point.”
