Raghav Juyal on ‘Bhai Tera Star Hai’, Birthday, and a Reality Check on Industry Survival: 'You Need Complete Delusion When Flying Solo'

Delulu is the only solulu. And Raghav Juyal knows it. The actor, who turns 35 today, is currently operating as a happy, hungry artist. Fresh off the massive success of 2025's The Ba*ds of Bollywood, Aryan Khan's debut directorial — a turn that saw Juyal completely win over audiences — the actor is now gearing up for his big-screen outing as a bona fide leading man in the cheekily titled comedy, Bhai Tera Star Hai.

The film's trailer, which dropped on Thursday, opens with a beautifully cynical statement: "An actor’s biggest talent is believing his own bullsh*t".

Juyal, whose character Ajay Singh is labeled a "delusional actor" in the Vivek B. Agrawal directorial, breaks into a laugh when asked if a heavy dose of delusion is a non-negotiable ingredient for industry survival.

"It took me 16 years to get here, and that kind of drive only happens when you believe in the impossible, when you are a little delulu," he notes.

Ahead of the release of Bhai Tera Star Hai — penned by Sudipto Sarkar and Vivek B. Agrawal, and produced by Avantika Hari, Sunil Rupani, and Vivek B. Agrawal — Juyal sits down with THR India to talk about mastering comedy, navigating his decade-long career, and why he has finally become wiser at 35.

Edited excerpts:

What was the headspace that made you feel like this was something you wanted to dive into?

I just felt that it is not like any other film we have been watching for years. It’s fresh, new, and highly experimental. I have a habit of not just flowing with the flow; I don't go by the typical comedy formula. Even with The Ba*ds of Bollywood, it was a completely different kind of edgy humor.

Bhai Tera Star Hai is family-oriented but incredibly experimental. In Indian cinema, the specific comic space that Govinda used to rule—or what we used to watch in Priyadarshan’s films—has been completely empty for years. We shot London very differently too—lots of neon, lots of raw street energy.

What was your comedy inspiration growing up?

In India, it was always Govinda! He could carry an entire film single-handedly. Internationally, Jim Carrey is a massive influence. I watched them constantly growing up and they really shaped my understanding of comedy. Even though I’m doing intense, serious work like 11.11, comedy is something I genuinely enjoy the most. But it is also the most difficult genre of all. It’s a pure game of timing and rhythm.

In the trailer, your character is described as a "delusional actor." It’s an interesting line because, on the internet, there’s a whole cultural wave saying "Delulu is the only solulu." Do you need a bit of delusion to function in this industry?

You need it completely! When you don’t have a massive producer’s hand on your head, and you don’t have anyone waiting in the wings to launch you, you have to build your own ecosystem out of pure belief. You have to just look at a mountain and say, "Let’s go for it, we will make it happen."

It took me 16 years to get here, and that kind of drive only happens when you believe in the impossible. If you don't back yourself with that level of intensity and improve your positioning, nobody in this industry will touch you. I’m flying solo, I’m bringing something new, and I’m going full out.

You turn 35 today. Looking back at your 30s so far, what is the most obvious change you feel in yourself?

I’ve developed patience and temperamental control. A decade ago, I was a loose cannon—completely chaotic. Today, I am much more self-aware. Life has taught me what to say, when to say it, and why to say it. There has to be a deeper meaning to your actions.

Will you have a working birthday?

I actually hosted a massive party — everyone came down! In my entire 16-year career, this is the very first time I threw myself a proper birthday party. I screened our trailer for everyone. Having the industry and reviewers love the trailer for my first solo hero film is the greatest birthday gift I could have asked for.