Sarabhai actor Rajesh Kumar calls out class system on film sets, star insecurity

Actor Rajesh Kumar, renowned for his role as Rosesh in the TV show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, has opened up about the hierarchical structure prevalent on film sets. He shared that lead stars often do not interact with the supporting cast, highlighting a class system that affects the creative process.

In a candid conversation with YouTuber Aftab Puntu, Rajesh revealed that decisions on film sets are predominantly made by the lead actor, director, and cinematographer. The contributions of other cast and crew members are often sidelined.

Only a few voices matter on big sets

He said, "If you go to a big film set, only four or five people discuss everything: the director, the cinematographer, the lead actor, and the lead writer. The experiences of the rest of the crew and cast simply do not count."

Calls out lack of rehearsals

The 51-year-old actor expressed concern over the lack of interaction between the lead actors and the supporting cast. He praised legendary actors like Amitabh Bachchan, who used to rehearse with the entire cast. This is a practice he now finds lacking in contemporary cinema.

He noted, "In recent times, I haven't seen a single lead actor rehearse with us. They either rehearse with the writer or with their assistant. They have absolutely no interaction with the secondary cast."

Insecurity impacts performances

Rajesh also touched upon the insecurities of the lead actors. He mentioned that many lead actors feel threatened by the supporting cast, leading to tactics such as providing dialogues to secondary actors at the last minute. This, he believes, hampers the performance and overall quality of a film. He shared an anecdote about a prominent actor who refused to engage with him, relying instead on assistants to communicate.

Rajesh concluded, "All I am saying is that we need to break free from this system."

The actor has gained recognition through numerous TV shows like Baa Bahoo Aur Baby and web series such as Kota Factory. He was recently seen in the films Saiyaara and Nishanchi.