The producer was looking for someone who looked both innocent and rugged to play the emperor in her forthcoming series. RAJAT TOKAS fit the part. He talked to Divya Kaushik about focussing on Akbar’s emotional transformation
A lot of small screen actors get famous through reality shows or saas bahu sagas.
Rajat Tokas became popular for appearing in period dramas like Dharti Ka Veer Yodha Prithviraj Chauhan. The actor who also featured in Tere liye and Dharam Veer, is returning to TV after a gap as the lead in Ekta Kapoor’s Jodha Akbar on Zee TV.
Talking recently about the role of Akbar, he said he was fascinated by how he transforms.
“I was not interested with events in his life but his nature. When I prepare myself for a part, I live with it. So on the sets I am spontaneous and don’t spend time wondering how a character would react in a particular situation. These days, I am living Akbar’s life, trying to understand the emotional phases he went through. He was powerful and never needed to shout or declare his strength. His reputation was such, it was felt if he wanted to kill, he would not declare it, but do it with a smile,” said Tokas, who worked earlier with Ekta Kapoor. But that didn’t keep him safe from auditions.
He still had to face them. Ekta apparently travelled across India and attended every audition personally to handpick actors for the role of Akbar and his Hindu wife, Jodha Bai.
A source involved with the production house revealed, “She was actively involved with auditions in Mumbai, Bhopal, Kolkata and Pune. Ekta subjected every aspirant to various look-tests.”
Kapoor had also declared on Facebook that she would be looking for fresh faces.
She reportedly said, “It’s tough to cast faces that have enigma and charm, without being synthetic. I wanted a raw look. Not a plastic one. When the period you are shooting in is 500 years ago, you realise every face requires study. Rajat has a blend of boyish innocence and rugged manliness required for the part. I wanted a boy-man. Although Rajat has the innocence of a 19-year-old, he is seasoned and mature. Akbar was someone who became a soldier and king by the age of 14. By 17 he had won a major battle. Rajat is an expert in martial arts and horse riding, so he fit the role.”
Rajat shared that he is choosy about his roles, hence a gap in his career for two years. “Whatever parts I got were on the basis of my acting. It is pure coincidence they major ones. When offered Prithviraj, I was only signed for a few episodes and my part was extended. And now I get to play Akbar. So God has been kind.” He added, “I am not the type to sing and dance in a reality show unless the part requires so.”
