Actor Akash Makhija has finally stepped into the spotlight after 14 years of persistence, thanks to his performance as the rapist and murderer Babu in the web series Raakh. In a recent interview, he reflected on his journey, the overwhelming audience response, and how the role has even led to threatening messages on social media.
Raakh Brings Long-Awaited Recognition
Akash Makhija said his life has changed significantly following the release of Raakh. Although he has been working in the entertainment industry for 14 years, he believes real recognition has come only now.
The actor revealed that he received a phone call from Rajkummar Rao, a message from Arjun Kapoor, and appreciation from Karan Johar, who shared the team’s work.
He also recalled being recognized by a fan while eating at a roadside stall, saying that people now regularly ask him for photographs—something he never experienced during the early years of his career.
Negative Role Brings Abuse and Death Threats
Playing the villain has also brought an intense reaction from viewers.
Akash shared that his Instagram inbox is filled with abusive messages because audiences became emotionally invested in the story. He considers this a sign that he successfully portrayed the character.
The actor also disclosed that he receives threatening messages, including, “Kahi mil mat jaana, tujhe maar denge.”
According to him, these messages are driven by viewers’ emotions rather than genuine intent, and he sees them as a reflection of the impact his performance has created.
Landing Babu Wasn’t Easy
Akash revealed that he was not the original choice for the role of Babu.
He said nearly 800 auditions were conducted for the character. Out of 14 shortlisted actors, three were selected. Another actor had initially been cast, but after that project faced issues, Akash was offered the role.
He described it as the toughest audition of his 14-year career and said he had to audition multiple times.
Preparing for an Extremely Dark Character
The actor explained that he has nothing in common with Babu in real life.
Although he has never smoked, he had to do so for the character. He emphasized that acting is about portraying a role rather than living like the character off-screen.
To build Babu’s personality, Akash focused on the character’s mentality, unpredictable behavior, and body language, describing him as someone without morals.
The Character Began Affecting Real Life
Akash admitted that the role gradually influenced his behavior outside the set.
He said his wife noticed that he had become unusually irritable. He also realized he had started staring at people unconsciously and using abusive language more often.
According to the actor, working on Gram Chikitsalay Season 2 helped him mentally move away from Babu and served as a form of therapy.
Five Hours of Makeup Every Shooting Day
Creating Babu’s appearance required extensive preparation.
Akash revealed that applying makeup for the character’s burnt hand took around two-and-a-half hours, while preparing the bald look required another two-and-a-half hours.
For shoots beginning at 6 a.m., he had to wake up as early as 3 a.m.
Wife and Family Had an Emotional Reaction
The actor said his wife became emotional after watching Raakh and even cried on the first day.
He shared that she found it difficult to sleep next to him because the character had disturbed her so deeply.
His mother was equally emotional and cried while watching scenes in which Ali Fazal, who plays a police officer, beats his character.
A Journey Filled With Rejections
Akash grew up in Ulhasnagar in a joint family of 10 members and began auditioning at the age of 18.
During his struggle, he appeared in episodes of Crime Patrol, worked extensively as a voice artist, dubbed for several actors, participated in animated shows, and featured alongside Amitabh Bachchan in the Audible audio podcast Kaali Awaazein.
He also acted in more than 100 advertisements and even considered becoming a radio jockey at Radio Mirchi, but declined because it would have affected his audition schedule.
Facing Rejection Became Routine
Reflecting on his journey, Akash said rejection is an everyday reality for aspiring actors.
He recalled being rejected over reasons such as hair, skin, changing script requirements, and even one project where he was told that his horoscope did not match with the stars involved.
Despite these setbacks, he continued pursuing acting without giving up.
Conclusion
Akash Makhija’s breakthrough in Raakh comes after more than a decade of perseverance, countless auditions, and repeated rejection. While the success of Babu has brought appreciation and industry recognition, it has also demonstrated the emotional impact a powerful performance can have on audiences.
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