Vedang Raina on Working with Alia Bhatt in Jigra and Navigating Fame

Vedang Raina, who made his acting debut with Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies, is now gearing up for his second film, Jigra, directed by Vasan Bala, where he will share the screen with Alia Bhatt. In recent interviews, Raina spoke about the unique experience of working with Bhatt and how he is navigating the spotlight while staying authentic to himself.

During a conversation with Filmfare, Vedang highlighted his admiration for Alia Bhatt’s dedication to her craft, saying, "We have different approaches when it comes to acting, and I have learned so much from her. I was just in awe with how she was approaching things and with so much conviction. I shot my first scene with her and I instantly realised why she is where she is. Even when I wasn’t shooting, I would go on the set and watch what she was doing."

The young actor also reflected on the differences in directing styles between Zoya Akhtar and Vasan Bala. On his experience working with Bala, Raina said, "Everything in the scene kept changing. We were shooting and it kept changing. I realised you can’t come rigid to Vasan sir’s set. He believes in things flowing more naturally on set." He compared this to Zoya Akhtar's more structured approach, explaining that she "knows exactly what she wants and is perfect with that."

Vedang also shared insights into how his growing fame has impacted him since the release of The Archies. He told Hindustan Times, "Even if one person on the street recognises me, it’s absolutely new to me. Never in my life, I thought that that would be the case." He emphasized the importance of staying grounded, stating, "All these things take some getting used to. Your life also changes. What I realised and has been my number one takeaway, is that always be yourself. Because there will be a lot of changes around you given the nature of the industry. You have to maintain your own. You can’t forget your own identity amid all this."

In Jigra, Vedang Raina and Alia Bhatt portray siblings, with the film slated for release on October 11.