Rajkummar Rao, a celebrated figure in Indian cinema, has recently shared insights into his early career, including a near-miss with a substantial role in Anurag Kashyap's acclaimed "Gangs of Wasseypur". Rao revealed that he was initially cast as a parallel lead alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the film. The story was conceived as a rivalry between their characters.

Rao fondly recalls the initial excitement surrounding the project. He and Siddiqui even traveled to Wasseypur with the writer, Zeeshan Qadri, to immerse themselves in the local culture, dialect, and accent. Rao recorded the locals to capture the nuances of their speech.

However, as the script evolved, the narrative of "Gangs of Wasseypur" expanded into a two-part saga, which led to a significant reduction in Rao's role. Kashyap himself informed Rao about the changes, giving him the option to step away from the project. Despite the setback, Rao chose to remain involved, driven by his desire to collaborate with Kashyap.

Rao admitted that he "felt a little bad" upon learning about the reduced screen time. He acknowledged the disappointment, considering the effort he had invested in preparing for the role, including the journey to Wasseypur with limited funds. Despite the disappointment, Rao doesn't regret his decision. He valued the opportunity to work with Anurag Kashyap and believes that being a part of the film ultimately benefited his career.

His association with "Gangs of Wasseypur" proved to be a turning point in his career in an unexpected way. It was on the sets of the film's second part that Rao met casting director Mukesh Chhabra, who subsequently introduced him to director Hansal Mehta. This meeting led to Rao's casting in the critically acclaimed film "Shahid" (2013), a role that earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.

Rajkummar Rao's journey to stardom began after studying acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. In 2010, Rao made his acting debut with the anthology film "Love Sex Aur Dhokha". Despite having a small role in the film, his performance garnered critical acclaim. His breakthrough came in 2013 with the films "Kai Po Che!" and "Shahid". His portrayal of lawyer Shahid Azmi in "Shahid" was a career-defining performance. Rao's career progressed with supporting roles in "Queen" (2014), "Aligarh" (2015), and "Bareilly Ki Barfi" (2017). He had lead roles in the independent films "Trapped" (2016) and "Newton" (2017). In 2021, Rajkummar Rao made his Hollywood debut with "The White Tiger".

Rao, born Raj Kumar Yadav on August 31, 1984, in Gurgaon, Haryana, has become one of Bollywood's most versatile actors. He is known for his dedication to his craft and has received numerous accolades. In 2017, he appeared on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list. He married actress Patralekha in 2021, after dating since 2010.