The web series “Rakh,” recently released on an OTT platform, has generated significant buzz. Actor Akash Makheja portrays a psychopathic serial killer, a role that has garnered much acclaim from viewers. He revealed that his real-life experiences played a crucial role in preparing for this character.
In an interview, Akash Makheja stated, “The most unique aspect of my character is that he sees himself as the center of the universe. He believes that others are merely minor characters in his story. He wants to control everything according to his desires, and if he doesn’t get what he wants, he resorts to force. This character has a dangerously twisted mindset, making it a challenging role to embody.”
He added, “While playing this character, I never felt sympathy for him. An actor must not have emotional attachment to a negative role to portray it effectively. I viewed it purely as a role and aimed to perform it with integrity so that the character’s true impact reaches the audience. Portraying such characters requires mental strength, as one must understand the violent aspects involved. I did not face many difficulties in grasping this character because the script was written very clearly. When the story and character development are strong, the actor doesn’t need to guess much; everything is already present in the words.”
During the interview, Akash also reflected on his school days. He shared, “I studied in a government boys’ school where the environment was quite strict and sometimes violent. I witnessed many incidents around me, including fights and aggressive behavior among children. Once, I saw some boys harming each other with tools from their geometry boxes. At that time, such events seemed normal, but later, when I viewed life from a different perspective, I realized how challenging that environment was.”
Akash remarked, “I have seen many other incidents from my childhood that I prefer not to disclose. The atmosphere back then was very different, and sometimes the behavior among children could be quite aggressive. There are people and situations in society that inspire such characters. The characters depicted in web series and films are not entirely fictional; they reflect glimpses of real life. This experience helped me make my character in ‘Rakh’ more authentic and impactful.”