Rahul Bose Reflects on Career Choices, Parallel Cinema, and Recent Success in ZEE5’s Berlin

Actor Rahul Bose, who has been a prominent figure in the Indian film industry for over three decades, recently opened up about his career choices and experiences in an interview with The Indian Express. Known for his preference towards parallel cinema, Bose discussed why he believes he will never be cast in lead roles in big-budget films, and his reflections on some of his notable projects, including Dil Dhadakne Do.

Bose explained his deliberate decision to focus on smaller-budget films throughout his career, stating, "I don’t think that I’d ever be offered a lead role in big-budget films because I don’t justify that expense. I realised that I wanted to only play leads, so I would have to go for small-budget films. Those making big-budget films, they would cast the stars, why would they cast me?" He further elaborated that this decision shaped his career trajectory from 1993 to 2012-13, during which he only played lead roles. He added, "Of course, I did Vishwaroopam with Kamal Haasan where he was the hero and I was the villain."

Bose also reflected on his role in Zoya Akhtar's 2015 ensemble film Dil Dhadakne Do, which starred Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, and Anushka Sharma. In the film, he portrayed the character Manav, an egoistic and chauvinistic husband to Priyanka Chopra's character. Speaking about his experience, Bose remarked, "Dil Dhadakne Do has a special place in my filmography, and I cherish that film. The story would not be the same if Priyanka didn’t have to deal with divorce."

In addition to his past projects, Bose is currently receiving praise for his performance in the ZEE5 series Berlin, a spy thriller set in the 1990s in New Delhi. Directed by Atul Sabharwal, the series features an ensemble cast that includes Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, Anupria Goenka, and Kabir Bedi.

Throughout his career, Rahul Bose has maintained his distinct identity in the industry by prioritizing meaningful roles and challenging narratives, a choice that continues to resonate with both critics and audiences alike.