Ankur Rathee: “I’ve always fed the artist within me"

The 31-year-old Indian-American actor on his journey into the world of cinema, the simple pleasures of life, and what’s on his playlist ATM.

01 February, 2023
Ankur Rathee: “I’ve always fed the artist within me"

You've watched him deliver stellar performances in Four More Shots Please!, Thappad and Made In Heaven. The Indo-American actor has been sweeping us off our feet, though his love with the theatrical arts started in New York. We caught up with Ankur Rathee to get to know him a little better. Here are the excerpts...

Cosmo: What were you doing right before this call?

Ankur Rathee: “I was recording for an audition that I am really excited about, and it’s fun to explore new characters. The first half of my day is usually spent sinking my teeth into scripts.”

C: What’s on your playlist currently, and who are your favourite artists?

AR: “I listen to varied genres and artists because most of my friends are musicians and composers. One day you’ll find me jamming to Tadap Tadap Ke from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and the next moment, I’m hooked on Michael Jackson’s Bad. However, these days I find myself humming Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha. It’s hard to explain why I am drawn to sad songs. In fact, I’ll be hitting the gym while listening to ghazals about heartbreaks!”

C: What’s on your binge queue right now?

AR: “I am re-watching House of Cards. I wanted to watch just the first episode, but I am already on the third season. Watching House of Cards has now become a form of study for me. The show is powerful and the performance of the actors is timeless. I often ask myself that if I was given that scene, how would I act? I want to decipher the actors’ approach to the scenes and the thought behind their delivery to the camera.”



 

C: What’s the perfect dinner menu for you?

AR: “I have realised that fancy restaurants just don’t cut it for me. Their taste is exquisite, but the portions are too small, and the food is expensive. I just like my pizza—thick crust—with the right amount of sauce and cheese. I can eat a pizza after a rough day to cheer myself up, and also after a good day to celebrate. It is the simple pleasures of life that matter to me.”

C: What was the first film you watched?

AR: “The first movie I watched was Pardes. I remember getting emotional, which in hindsight, was pretty odd...”

C: What’s the one thing you’d never wear?

AR: “I don’t like tank tops, I think it exposes my armpits too much. It feels as if someone has ripped off my sleeves.”

C: How would you describe your personal style?

AR: “My personal style is heavily influenced by what I wear on-screen. I like to incorporate the same pieces into daily life. Recently, I started experimenting with jewellery and got my ear pierced, too.”

C: What’s the most prized possession in your wardrobe? 

AR: “My parents gifted me a bangle 13 years ago from the Self-Realization Fellowship. I have been a devotee of Paramahansa Yogananda since I was a child. While Kriya Yoga is an integral spiritual practice—the bangle, in many ways, symbolises my spiritual alignment.” 



 

C: Who do you turn to for advice?

AR: “I turn to my wife Anuja [Joshi] whenever I am facing difficulty. We are lucky to be in the same profession because it allows us to use our individual experiences to guide each other. Sometimes she is facing a hurdle that I have already endured, and occasionally, when I am approaching a new territory, her experience of traversing it successfully comes to my rescue.” 

C: How did you get into the world of acting? 

AR: “I always knew I wanted to be an actor, but I could never muster up the courage to voice my wishes. Thankfully, it didn’t stop me from experiencing and experimenting with the performing arts. I ensured I always fed the artist within me... It wasn’t until my final year at Princeton University [in the US] that I realised that this is what I want to do with my life.” 

C: And finally, if you weren’t an actor, what would you be?

AR: “I think I’d be an entrepreneur because I need a creative outlet. The joy of nurturing an idea until it becomes a reality is intoxicating. It’s what I like to do when I reach the set...If I couldn’t do it there, I’d take my ideas to the world of business.”
 

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