Raghav Juyal opened up about Karan Johar and Guneet Monga’s reactions to his performance in Kill in an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha. Karan and Guneet co-produced Kill under their respective banners, Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and received rave reviews. The film was eventually released in cinemas last month.
Speaking about the reactions his producers’ reaction to his act, Raghav told News18 Showsha, “They were really happy. I remember, I told Karan sir in Toronto before the film premiered at TIFF that, ‘Sir, I am nervous.’ He and Guneet said, ‘Jaa Raghav, jee le apni zindagi.’ All the memories of working in the film rushed back to me and I felt like Kajol from DDLJ. Aisa lag raha tha ke main train pakad lunga aur wo Kill ki train thi. As an actor I was established with the film, and to the extent that critics have called it the best performance of the year, and that is a big deal for me."
Raghav also revealed that he got emotional when he walked into a packed theatre and heard the Dharma’s iconic tune play out. He said it was only during the audience screening that it hit him that he is in a Dharma Productions film. “For me, it was unbelievable. I recently went into a hall to see the audience reactions and the hall was packed, that too on a Tuesday. I wore a mask, hoodie and everything to hide my identity, and I sat quietly in the back of the hall. When the iconic Dharma tune played on the screen, I couldn’t stop myself from getting emotional. I started crying. Growing up, I have watched each Dharma’s films four to five times. I used to wonder if I would get such an opportunity," he said.
When he sat with fellow audiences in the hall, Raghav said he then realised that a Dharma film has finally happened to him. “I was a back dancer and now I am here. Kitni mushkilo se, kitne papad bel ke mujhe Dharma ki film mili hai, toh mujhe bahut khushi mili hai. I am really emotional about it."
In Kill, Raghav plays a goon whose ego is hurt after an Army officer (played by Lakshya) causes a hinderance in his plans of looting a train. Blood-thirsty, Raghav is out for revenge. The film shows Raghav in a never-before-seen light. While Raghav is taking in all the appreciation and criticisms coming his way in his stride, there was one review that stood out for him. “Someone told me a strange thing when we walked out of the theatre hall after the film premiered. The man, who is also an actor, said, ‘Raghav, you are a shape shifter.’ I wondered what it was. At that point, I thanked the person but I didn’t know the meaning. I went back home and searched up the meaning, and I was so happy about the compliment. I loved that they noticed the different things I did to break stereotypes. It was my favourite compliment," he said.
Watch the complete interview here:
Kill is currently running in theatres. The film is directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and is backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions as well as Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment.
