Actor Vijay Raghavendra on Career Struggles and Never Giving Up: 'This Profession Doesn't Work on Comfort'

Kannada actor Vijay Raghavendra will be playing two cops this Friday. In a serendipitous collision of worlds, the actor will don the uniform in both the ZEE5 show Rakshasa, as well as the Kannada film Second Case of Seetharam on February 20. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor tells us why he never takes the Rajkumar legacy for granted, always remembering his wife Spandana's advice, and why no work is small work.

Tell us about the ZEE5 show Rakshasa.

When Tharun Sudhir came up with this project, there was no reason for me to say no. The fact that Zee Kannada is doing something like this is important. They are pretty aggressive with the original series right now. And they better be also. The fact that it was based in north Karnataka drew me too. The series unfolds in the backdrop of the Yellamma temple, and it's based on several reports of crocodile attacks.

You're playing two cops this Friday. How did you differentiate the two?

In a movie like Seetharam.., my character is dominant and strong. He's always under control, but he is a little more humble and helpless in Rakshasa. The whole team of Seetharam is amazing. There was a very conscious effort to make the movie a certain way, and that has given immense support for the audience, not just from Karnataka, but even other states. 

What do you think needs to change in Kannada cinema today? How can we sustain consistency?

The first thing I'd want to very humbly say, with a straight face, is that we should stop complaining that audiences don't come to the theatre. People are waiting for good stuff. If you make an excuse saying they are busy with their television and phones, that's false too because how much ever people watch movies, they want to have a nice time at the theatres. But are we giving them that nice time? I don't see many films with good writing. Even before making a movie, people are very busy promoting it.

You've been very candid about the privilege of being in the job and coming from a prestigious film family. 

I'm thankful for having been given this space in films and television. I have no second thoughts in talking about how struggling my career has been. In spite of getting the biggest beginnings, I have made some mistakes. The only thing that kept me grounded is the responsibility I hold on my back, the very name of my uncle, Dr Rajkumar, my cousins, and my father. I haven't given up because of the people who have been giving me opportunities. 

How did you keep going through phases of struggle?

The belief and faith in life. At one particular point in life, my wife held my spirit [his wife passed away in 2023]. She was the one who protected my faith in life and put in extra energy. The way she prepared me is actually overwhelming. She made me feel like the low phase wasn't because of me. She was my biggest critic. Every time I'd say I have to think about certain things, she'd say, "Don't feel you've arrived. Just keep working." She was very practical, and she wasn't unnecessarily emotional. That's what my son and I are both doing right now. 

What are the opportunities for mid-career actors today?

There are a lot of opportunities, provided we keep ourselves open. This profession doesn't work on comfort. We have to be a little more self-aware. Luckily, because I was introduced to these things by my parents, it has somehow helped me look around. Opportunities don't always come knocking at our doors. I started working in television as a celebrity RJ in a radio channel, I anchor shows, and I'm on stage. I just want to work. This happens in mid-career; I want to be devoted to my work, and there's no other shortcut for this.