Mumbai: In an exclusive conversation with Actor Rajniesh Duggal on his upcoming film "Udaipur Files," a true story based on the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, and his short film "Fragile X Syndrome." He believed cinema should mirror society, even if it sparks controversy. Rajniesh emphasized the importance of creative freedom, suggesting censorship should be more logical. He's diversified his career, working on dramas, thrillers, and dark comedies, and values authenticity in storytelling. He revealed his upcoming projects include "Udaipur Files", "Fragile," and "Inspector Avinash Part 2".
02:26should always be made for, you know, giving out true life stories,
02:32that people can tell a lot of things emotionally,
02:35a society can become a mirror of a society,
02:38if there are no awareness, then it will be created.
02:41And this should be a mission of everyone, which should be told in the best way possible.
02:46Sir, when you read the script, what do you have to choose to be hesitant?
02:50Yes, as I said, when I read the script,
02:52the first job I did was to go home and check out what the truth is and what is not.
03:00Then I had to know from some sources,
03:02how much it is in it.
03:05So, whatever it was written,
03:06it was actually Kaniya Lal Ji's family to keep it in the same way.
03:13And after that, it was done with its research and then it was written.
03:16So, it was a lot of time, it was true.
03:18So, I think that was the only thing that I could research on.
03:29And after that, I had to sign it.
03:33Sir, what do you have to say about security of precautions?
03:42See, it was only security and it was only talked about when we were in the set.
03:47And in the set, we have shot such a place, such a place, such a location.
03:51And there was a place where we have seen the scenes as well.
03:57Well, we have taken a lot of scenes for real locations.
03:58There were three parts that we took there in the set.
04:00One is his part of the Kanaiya Lal Ji's, which is Ravijay Raja is playing.
04:04One is his part of IB Chief's, which is Meera, which is Ishar Singh.
04:09So, that was filmed in Delhi, Karnal and Rajasthan.
04:12And the other part of the other is filmed in the studio.
04:16shooted. So there are many different parts, but they all made a film, and it was
04:21made securely shooted.
04:23The title of Fragile is quite symbolic, so does it all apply to the story or society
04:30film?
04:31Yes, Fragile is a short film. It was from my mind that when I produce a film,
04:38the first thing that I will make is a short film. It is also to give a social issue
04:43or to give society. To give to the society. And Fragile X is a syndrome that I have
04:50connected to Fragile X Society in India since 2019. So I always wanted to make something
04:57for them. And the title of Fragile is not just the name because it is Fragile X.
05:06It is the name Fragile X. It is the name of Fragile X because it is the state of parents
05:10of their inner state. When they have a special child. It means that when they know that
05:16they have a fragile X syndrome, which is non-curable, hereditary, life is not cured.
05:23It is the name of Fragile X. It is the name of Fragile X. It is the name of Fragile X.
05:44It is the biggest reason to keep the title Fragile X.
05:45Yes, in Amicotti International Film Festival, our film Fragile X is screened in opening night.
06:04This was something very, very, you know, it was an honor. And we are so happy that we could make it on time.
06:11Because we have made a film on the 18th June. And on the 23rd June, we can screen it there.
06:18And I am also the jury member of Amicotti Film Festival since 2021. So where we usually judge short films.
06:25And then this year, I was the jury member for the feature film section. And because we had to show my feature film, my short film.
06:34There was a very good reaction there. As many people have seen, there were more people in their eyes.
06:41It was very overwhelming. I wanted my whole team, my partner Anand, Pachigar, Fragile X Society India, Shalini Kadia, Nirmal Kadia Ji.
06:54So these are all there. If it happens, we can see that the live reaction to people was very, very overwhelming.
07:03And even now, the testimonials coming from Italy, who came from there, we are getting about 4-4.5 stars rating of the film.
07:13And more than the rating, we all know that the amount of the film is spread, the amount of awareness that it will create, it will be better for society.
07:23And there will be a lot of knowledge about the fragilic syndrome.
07:27You are a lot of famous for the horror genre. Do you feel that you have to be scared of this typecast?
07:33Yes, now there is no fear of this. Because now I am doing a lot of the genres.
07:38And since I have not done a lot of times, I have not done a lot of horror.
07:41So I feel like there is no fear of this. Before I felt like it.
07:44Because I was only doing a lot of horror and supernatural thrillers.
07:48But I think since the last 3-4 years, I feel that the barrier has broken.
07:54And now I am doing a drama, cop dramas, thrillers, comedy, dark humor.
08:02So there are many different spaces where you are doing true stories.
08:06So now there is no fear of this.
08:09Why do you have to face a negative judgment?
08:15See, there is no negative judgment.
08:17There is a lot of fan-following that feels good.
08:21So I think I have to face a following like that.
08:24And I think personally, I don't think that unless a script requires something like that,
08:33I would be very open to doing it.
08:35But because only if you have to do a titillate for someone in the script,
08:39that you have to do a scene like that, or you have to do a song like that,
08:43so I am not open.
08:45There is no negative thing.
08:47But yes, there is a place where you have to listen to your fans.
08:52That, sir, we like to see you as Ram, as a very clean figure.
09:00What do you need to do?
09:02Sir, Inspector Abhinashad Closecard,
09:06I am working outside of your comfort zone.
09:10What is your choice?
09:12See, the comfort zone,
09:14I am not saying that it is my comfort zone.
09:18But I was changing the way that I can do everything.
09:22I can do everything,
09:23which is what I am talking about.
09:25I am talking about thrillers and horror.
09:28I am doing the maximum work.
09:30I mean, there is so much range.
09:32These are all slice-of-life,
09:34like our postcards,
09:35slice-of-life drama,
09:36cop drama,
09:38Inspector Abhinash,
09:39which I have played Inspector Ahlavat.
09:41So, these are all zones in me,
09:43and these are all zones that I wanted to explore.
09:45And then,
09:47the part 2 is coming.
09:48Both of them are coming.
09:49So, yeah, I am very happy that people have loved it.
09:53And, you know, they are looking forward to part 2 also.
09:55Sir, TV films and OTT,
10:07Sir, what do you think about creative freedom?
10:11See, I would say,
10:12you get the most creative freedom in OTT,
10:16and you get the most creative freedom in the film.
10:19And if you watch TV,
10:21you create a little bit,
10:24but after that,
10:25you have a non-stop,
10:27because obviously,
10:28there are deadlines,
10:29you have to do 10 or 12 scenes in a limited time.
10:32So,
10:33as much as you do,
10:35I think,
10:36there are more sharpening.
10:37Because as much as you can think of a scene in 3-4 ways,
10:41you have to do a limited time,
10:43which I think is a very good exercise.
10:46So, I would say that
10:47there are some positives of each medium.
10:49And the most creative freedom,
10:51I would say,
10:52that
10:53being a creative director,
10:55or a director,
10:56as an actor,
10:57you have a creative freedom in the film,
10:58and on the web.
11:00Sir, what do you think?
11:01Do you think that
11:02if you have a real issue in this film,
11:03or do you try to make a book?
11:05Or do you try to make a book?
11:06Or do you try to make a book?
11:07Or do you try to make a book?
11:11No, I think,
11:12see, there are a lot of makers.
11:14It all depends on the maker and the film.
11:16Some of the films are just doing it.
11:19But,
11:20I think, there are a lot of films that are genuinely,
11:23deeply,
11:24who have researched,
11:25who are working on it,
11:27and then they make it.
11:28Like Vivek Agniyutri Sir.
11:30So,
11:31I would say, definitely,
11:32he is someone who
11:33is genuinely making great true stories,
11:36great cinema for,
11:38which are,
11:39which is helping the society.
11:41There are a lot of truth that are coming in front.
11:44And,
11:45others,
11:46some of the people,
11:47who make propaganda,
11:48which is different.
11:50Sir,
11:51censorship and creative freedom,
11:52on which side of the film?
11:54See,
11:55I would say,
11:56see,
11:57the censor
11:58gives a censorship.
11:59But,
12:00when you say cuts,
12:01then,
12:02if you are giving a censor,
12:04then you don't give cuts,
12:05or do not give.
12:06That's what I feel.
12:08And,
12:09I feel,
12:10because,
12:11at the end of the day,
12:12that creative freedom,
12:13you can put on OTT,
12:14and you can put on YouTube,
12:16but,
12:17you cannot put on film,
12:18because,
12:19sometimes,
12:20there is a judge and
12:21sometimes,
12:22there is a tapered down.
12:24Sir,
12:25today,
12:26we work on Instagram,
12:27because,
12:28generally,
12:29you have to see it,
12:30you have to see it,
12:31or do you have to see it,
12:32or do you have to see it?
12:33Yes,
12:34I mean,
12:35I mean,
12:36frankly,
12:37sometimes,
12:38sometimes,
12:39because,
12:40if you have to get a job from Instagram,
12:41or social media,
12:42then,
12:43there is a different thing.
12:44And,
12:45there are many platforms,
12:46there are many corporates,
12:47there are many companies,
12:48you have to see it,
12:49you have to see it,
12:50if you have to see it,
12:51if you have to see it,
12:52you have to call it,
12:53or cast it.
12:54So,
12:55I think,
12:56that casting angle,
12:57of casting only influencers,
12:58or only people,
12:59with a certain level of following,
13:01is very different.
13:03And,
13:04if,
13:05I wish them all the best,
13:06that they are actors,
13:07but,
13:08I don't know,
13:09I think,
13:10that many times,
13:11they get to know,
13:12because,
13:13who is an actor,
13:14he is an actor,
13:15and,
13:16when he comes to the set,
13:17he gives you the script,
13:18from here to here.
13:19So,
13:20that's what I believe in.
13:21And,
13:22this is just a by-product,
13:23which,
13:24as an influencer,
13:25if you are doing it,
13:26which is great,
13:27but,
13:28as an actor,
13:29when you are doing it on Instagram,
13:30which is also important,
13:31because,
13:32you are doing it for your fans,
13:33but,
13:34that doesn't need to be your whole life.
13:36What are your future projects,
13:38and what are you doing?
13:40Yes,
13:41my future projects,
13:42first of all,
13:43is Odhepur Files,
13:44Kanegyalal murder case,
13:45which is coming out,
13:46on 11th July.
13:47Then,
13:48there is a short film,
13:49that we have made,
13:50called,
13:51Fragile.
13:52So,
13:53that is a film,
13:54based on a Fragile X syndrome.
13:55That is a film,
13:56on his awareness.
13:57After that,
13:58Inspector Abhinash,
13:59part 2,
14:00which is,
14:01the part 2,
14:02of Inspector Abhinash.
14:03And,
14:04then we have,
14:05two more things,
14:06in the pipeline,
14:07which,
14:08we will tell you quickly.
14:09And,
14:10yeah,
14:11I would like to say,
14:12that,
14:13thank you so much,
14:14for giving me,
14:15all the love,
14:16always.
14:17And,
14:18I hope,
14:19that,
14:20that,
14:21that,
14:22that,
14:23that,
14:24I will be coming,
14:25and,
14:262025,
14:27is going to be great.
14:28And,
14:29there are,
14:30at least,
14:31three,
14:32four,
14:33four things,
14:34which are going to come out,
14:35this year.
14:36tell me,
14:37the,
14:38two,
14:39two,
14:40three,
14:41two.
14:44See,
14:45I think,
14:47See, I think Diljit Dosan is a phenomenon. He's fantastic. I love him. I mean, I'm a fan of him. And Paji, see, he hasn't done anything like that. And I'm glad that he's gone back on Border 2. And he's gone back on it. And the rest of his films, I mean, the cast of the first time, he also told me that my cast of the first time was before.
15:09But yes, he can stop it in some parts, which is sometimes not in his hands also. So I feel that everything will be fine. And we'll see him on screen again. Thank you.
