Rajeev Bhardwaj is known for his work in popular mythological and historical dramas like Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, Maharana Pratap, and Chandragupta Maurya. Rajeev Bhardwaj is now playing a cameo in Aye Mere Humsafar as Laali Rani, “someone who is not a transgender, but loves to dress up as a woman.”
It was not easy for him to dress up in lehengas and saris, but he says that “the role is so challenging that it shook me off my post-lockdown slumber mode.” He also adds, “I respect women even more now! My skin has rashes from wearing (clothes with) zari and jewellery and I wonder how women do that on so many occasions. Also, to have 100-150 pins planted on your head is a different kind of pain. It has never taken me so long on the sets to get my makeup and hair done as it is taking now. Even taking off that makeup takes me around 45 minutes after pack up. I am still getting used to all this.”
Rajeev shares that he had to apply alta and nail paint for the role. “Even after trying to remove my nail paint, I still have some of it. Now, I have started telling people on sets to use sketch pens instead of nail paint, if we do not have to shoot a close up shot.”
Apart from the physical appearance, he has to maintain certain mannerisms as well. Rajeev says, “I have tried to portray her (his character) to be very gentle and graceful (when she is not angry and aggressive) and that was a difficult part. I think my training in theatre and doing diverse roles surely helped me in understanding this character and changing my expressions and mannerisms accordingly in front of the camera,”