Rajeev Khandelwal: Trusting instinct over industry norms

For more than twenty years, Rajeev Khandelwal has forged an unconventional path across television, films, and OTT platforms, driven by instinct. He views his career shifts not as risks but as natural progressions, asserting that difficulty arises from a lack of self-confidence, not the journey itself.

Khandelwal, often associated with intense roles, explains that projects find him, but he has also explored lighter shades. He aspires to portray complex negative characters with genuine motivations, rather than caricatures. His career choices are guided by intrinsic excitement, not by industry pressures of constant visibility or networking.

He famously left the popular show Kahiin To Hoga at its peak, believing it was essential to avoid overstaying his welcome and to remain deserving of audience affection. This decision, along with his transition to films with 'Aamir,' was based on script quality and genuine interest, not a pre-planned career trajectory.

Khandelwal critiques rigid industry templates and advises against the notion that success in one medium precludes success in another, noting his own return to television after films. He believes the true enjoyment lies in setting trends rather than following them.