Rag Mayur's Journey from Writing about Films to Proving His Mettle in Acting

In the realm of cinema, where dreams are woven into stories and characters come to life, one individual has emerged as a testament to passion and dedication. Rag Mayur, a name that resonates with recent cinematic success in the blockbuster film "Keedaa Cola," directed by Tharun Bhascker, has been making waves with his remarkable performance. A writer turned actor, Mayur's journey into the world of acting is a compelling tale of pursuing one's dreams with unwavering commitment.

In a conversation with Deccan Chronicle, Rag Mayur sheds light on his journey, recounting how his childhood fascination with films and a knack for storytelling paved the way for his foray into acting. Despite the challenges of balancing a demanding professional life and personal commitments, Mayur's love for cinema remained undeterred.
I am here to prove my mettle and explore acting: Writer turned actor Rag Mayur

Rag Mayur....this name has been doing rounds and making headlines right since the release of the recent blockbuster film Keedaa Cola directed by Tharun Bhascker. Mayur played a character called Lancham and his performance in the film received a lot of appreciation. Mayur has been part of a couple of films before Keedaa Cola, but more than the films, it is his journey to films that proves how dedicated he is towards what he does. Talking to Deccan Chronicle, Mayur shares some insights into his journey.

So Mayur, tell us about your journey. Much before you became an actor, what did you used to do?

I have been passionate about films since my childhood and that passion is what made me write about films. Back in those days when blogs were a thing, I used to write blogs on those films which I used to watch every Friday. People who read the blogs used to appreciate me for it and one day I received a call from someone who offered me a chance to write. That is how I started writing for Chitramala and that platform brought a lot of recognition as well. But otherwise I am a Software engineer and that is my main profession.

How did you balance cinema with professional and personal life?

Movies are something I always liked. My parents always wanted me to do well in academics and there were a lot of restrictions. In fact we did not have any cable connection at all. It was only during summer holidays that we used to get to watch movies. I used to take part in a lot of activities in school and cultural activities especially. I used to explore theater over the weekends and even made a few short films as well. I used to go for auditions as well. Some or the other way, I used to make sure cinema is part of life.

So how did you end up acting?

Talking about it, I auditioned for Ee Nagaraniki Emaindhi and got rejected too. Because of the passion I have for cinema, I wanted to try my hand at acting and chose to pursue it. That is how Cinema Bandi came to me. The film has received so much critical acclaim that I am very grateful for. People of other languages too have watched the dubbed version of it and poured in their appreciation for me.

Did Cinema Bandi change your life?

Oh, yes! It did. Very much. I could prove my acting mettle with it. It gave me the exposure that was much-needed to me. Though it is not a commercial success, it gave me the platform to explore cinema, acting and even look for more opportunities.

 Now that these films like Cinema Bandi and Keedaa Cola have given some exposure, what kind of characters are you looking forward to play?

I want to play characters that audiences can relate to. They have to be a quirky as possible, not so boring or routine but different. I want to play shady characters as well so that I can show my skill to the audiences. I want to be a performer and that is all I want to be known for.