Overview

• Rao says his outsider status in Bollywood freed him from expectations and helped him discover his unique voice
• Over the past year he has taken roles spanning supernatural, comedy, thriller, gangster drama and romantic comedy to avoid typecasting
• He believes authentic creative choices resonate with audiences and can succeed commercially without compromising artistic vision
• He became the face of home improvement retailer MR. DIY, choosing deals that reflect his personal values
• Rao is set to embrace fatherhood and will begin shooting a Shoojit Sircar comedy late in 2025, followed by a Sourav Ganguly biopic in January 2026