Raakh's 'Babu' Akash Makhija says fans said his eyes reminded them of Irrfan
Akash Makhija has spoken about the response to his performance as Babu in Raakh. He said the role ended years of waiting while also bringing intense reactions and fresh hope for work.
For 14 years, Akash Makhija did what thousands of actors in Mumbai do every single day: audition, wait, get rejected, and then keep going. And then one fine day, a project like Raakh came his way, and overnight, the actor became one of the most talked-about performers on Indian streaming.
His portrayal of Babu left audiences disturbed, fascinated and, in many cases, furious. Social media couldn't stop discussing him, Google searches shot up, and suddenly, after years of being 'that actor you've seen somewhere', Akash became the man everyone wanted to know more about.
In an exclusive chat with India Today, the actor shared that he's both overwhelmed and grounded by the response. "It's a little unreal. I am still kind of processing. I am constantly on my phone. And while my family calls me out for the same, I tell them that it has taken a lot to be here... and I also know it's not going to last forever. So while I am enjoying the phase, I also don't want to get carried away by it," Makhija said.
Akash Makhija on how he bagged Raakh
The actor further discussed what it took to stay persistent: making multiple sacrifices, dealing with continuous rejection, not having a stable income despite coming from a middle-class family, and watching his friends move ahead in life while he continued giving auditions. "But quitting was never really an option, because there was no plan B. I kept working and waiting for that one big opportunity. And it came with Raakh," he added with a smile.
The actor said that rather than reading about the Ranga-Billa case, he focused on understanding criminal psychology and building Babu from the ground up. One of the most fascinating directions he received during workshops was to think of Babu as a combination of different animals. For Akash, the key was also making Babu feel terrifyingly normal, the kind of boy who could be living around you.
The actor further warmed up as he shared how audiences have been comparing his eyes to those of late actor Irrfan. "A lot of people are comparing ki iski aankhe Irrfan sir ki yaad dilati hai. Bina kahe bohot kuch bol jati hai iss show mein. Wo mujhe bahut-bahut touch kar gaya (His eyes remind me of Irrfan Sir; they convey so much without a word being spoken. It really touched me deeply). And I am also being compared to Ashutosh Rana in Sangharsh and then Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Raman Raghav. I have grown up watching them and it's an honour to be even put in the same sentence as them."
And while he shared how these compliments have boosted his confidence, there are people who have also sent him death threats after watching his performance. "But that is also a kind of appreciation for my performance," he said with a chuckle.
Akash Makhija on his character Babu
The road to becoming Babu wasn't easy either. Akash Makhija first auditioned while shooting Gram Chikitsalay in Chhattisgarh. He later discovered that nearly 800 actors had auditioned for the role. He even took the first flight back when he was called for a re-audition. And while he eventually made it to the final shortlist, he was rejected. A few days later, the makers called him back as they were rethinking their decision. The night before the first reading, he was finally given the script, which, in his own words, "blew him away".
"Until then, I only knew there was a character, one of the main antagonists, and I had read just two scenes. I was travelling back home on a local train, reading the script, and I was stunned. I kept thinking, 'What have I got myself into? How am I going to do this?' It was only at the reading that I realised Ali Fazal was playing JP, Sonali Bendre was Mona, Rakesh Bedi and Aamir Bashir were there. I was in complete shock, as I didn't know about the cast. I remember I couldn't even say my lines, and Rakesh Sir encouraged me. He said he could see my potential. I think everyone's confidence in me made it easier for me," Akash said with a smile.
The actor dismissed any special rituals before the shoot and also said that he doesn't believe in method acting. "I feel acting is like truthful pretending. But to look the part, I wouldn't take a bath or use perfume," he added.
The most difficult sequence to film was the entire car scene in Episode 8. He shared how they performed it almost 15 times to get the best visuals from every angle. With rain, a suffocating ambience, and a deeply disturbing sequence, he said the emotional impact lingered long after filming ended. "The kids were also fabulous in that scene. People were actually crying on set, and seeing that reaction first-hand, it takes a toll on you," he said.
Apart from Gram Chikitsalay 2, which was released today, Akash revealed that he currently has no projects in hand and is hoping the success of Raakh leads to more opportunities. The actor added that after spending 14 years in the industry, he hopes people recognise his range and give him the platform to showcase it.
Raakh and Gram Chikitsalay 2 are now streaming on Prime Video
For 14 years, Akash Makhija did what thousands of actors in Mumbai do every single day: audition, wait, get rejected, and then keep going. And then one fine day, a project like Raakh came his way, and overnight, the actor became one of the most talked-about performers on Indian streaming.
His portrayal of Babu left audiences disturbed, fascinated and, in many cases, furious. Social media couldn't stop discussing him, Google searches shot up, and suddenly, after years of being 'that actor you've seen somewhere', Akash became the man everyone wanted to know more about.
In an exclusive chat with India Today, the actor shared that he's both overwhelmed and grounded by the response. "It's a little unreal. I am still kind of processing. I am constantly on my phone. And while my family calls me out for the same, I tell them that it has taken a lot to be here... and I also know it's not going to last forever. So while I am enjoying the phase, I also don't want to get carried away by it," Makhija said.
Akash Makhija on how he bagged Raakh
The actor further discussed what it took to stay persistent: making multiple sacrifices, dealing with continuous rejection, not having a stable income despite coming from a middle-class family, and watching his friends move ahead in life while he continued giving auditions. "But quitting was never really an option, because there was no plan B. I kept working and waiting for that one big opportunity. And it came with Raakh," he added with a smile.
The actor said that rather than reading about the Ranga-Billa case, he focused on understanding criminal psychology and building Babu from the ground up. One of the most fascinating directions he received during workshops was to think of Babu as a combination of different animals. For Akash, the key was also making Babu feel terrifyingly normal, the kind of boy who could be living around you.
The actor further warmed up as he shared how audiences have been comparing his eyes to those of late actor Irrfan. "A lot of people are comparing ki iski aankhe Irrfan sir ki yaad dilati hai. Bina kahe bohot kuch bol jati hai iss show mein. Wo mujhe bahut-bahut touch kar gaya (His eyes remind me of Irrfan Sir; they convey so much without a word being spoken. It really touched me deeply). And I am also being compared to Ashutosh Rana in Sangharsh and then Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Raman Raghav. I have grown up watching them and it's an honour to be even put in the same sentence as them."
And while he shared how these compliments have boosted his confidence, there are people who have also sent him death threats after watching his performance. "But that is also a kind of appreciation for my performance," he said with a chuckle.
Akash Makhija on his character Babu
The road to becoming Babu wasn't easy either. Akash Makhija first auditioned while shooting Gram Chikitsalay in Chhattisgarh. He later discovered that nearly 800 actors had auditioned for the role. He even took the first flight back when he was called for a re-audition. And while he eventually made it to the final shortlist, he was rejected. A few days later, the makers called him back as they were rethinking their decision. The night before the first reading, he was finally given the script, which, in his own words, "blew him away".
"Until then, I only knew there was a character, one of the main antagonists, and I had read just two scenes. I was travelling back home on a local train, reading the script, and I was stunned. I kept thinking, 'What have I got myself into? How am I going to do this?' It was only at the reading that I realised Ali Fazal was playing JP, Sonali Bendre was Mona, Rakesh Bedi and Aamir Bashir were there. I was in complete shock, as I didn't know about the cast. I remember I couldn't even say my lines, and Rakesh Sir encouraged me. He said he could see my potential. I think everyone's confidence in me made it easier for me," Akash said with a smile.
The actor dismissed any special rituals before the shoot and also said that he doesn't believe in method acting. "I feel acting is like truthful pretending. But to look the part, I wouldn't take a bath or use perfume," he added.
The most difficult sequence to film was the entire car scene in Episode 8. He shared how they performed it almost 15 times to get the best visuals from every angle. With rain, a suffocating ambience, and a deeply disturbing sequence, he said the emotional impact lingered long after filming ended. "The kids were also fabulous in that scene. People were actually crying on set, and seeing that reaction first-hand, it takes a toll on you," he said.
Apart from Gram Chikitsalay 2, which was released today, Akash revealed that he currently has no projects in hand and is hoping the success of Raakh leads to more opportunities. The actor added that after spending 14 years in the industry, he hopes people recognise his range and give him the platform to showcase it.
Raakh and Gram Chikitsalay 2 are now streaming on Prime Video
