'What went wrong?': Jaideep Ahlawat recalls not getting roles post-'Raazi'
What's the story
Jaideep Ahlawat, who is celebrated for his role as R&AW Agent Manav Chaudhary in the 2018 film Raazi, has revealed that he struggled to find work after the film's success. Despite the universal acclaim for his performance, Ahlawat was left wondering what went wrong. "After Raazi, I didn't have work. And you are like, 'What went wrong?' Everybody is praising it. Everybody is talking about the role," he said during a roundtable discussion with Hollywood Reporter India.
Typecasting woes
Ahlawat faced typecasting post-'Raazi' and 'Paatal Lok'
Ahlawat also disclosed that he was often offered similar roles after Raazi. He was either typecast as an IB (Intelligence Bureau) or R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing) officer, which he wasn't keen on doing anymore. This typecasting continued after his hit stint in Paatal Lok, where he mostly got offers to play a cop.
Industry insights
'Everybody wants that thing': Ahlawat on industry trends
Ahlawat also spoke about industry trends and how they affect actors' decisions. He said actors tend to start thinking alike if they belong to a certain social group or friend circle, which can affect their choices. "If there are four-five people going to the gym, everybody will follow that. If four of them are doing theater, everybody follows them," he said.
Next venture
Ahlawat's upcoming project: 'Paatal Lok 2'
Meanwhile, Ahlawat is gearing up for his upcoming project, Paatal Lok 2. The series will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, January 17. In this follow-up to the hit first season, Ahlawat will reprise his role as Hathiram Chaudhary, a washed-out cop in Delhi who gets the case of an assassination attempt gone wrong.