The innings that led to Raakh: Ramandeep Yadav’s journey from cricket to the camera

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Chandigarh, July 5

For actor Ramandeep Yadav, the journey to recognition has been anything but ordinary. Long before audiences began appreciating his intense performance as Rajjo in the web series Raakh, the Chandigarh born performer was chasing an entirely different dream. Cricket was once his greatest passion, and representing the country was the ambition that shaped his early years. Today, however, the actor is winning praise for disappearing into emotionally layered characters, proving that persistence, discipline and years of hard work eventually find their reward.

With Raakh drawing attention for its gripping narrative and powerful performances, Ramandeep believes Rajjo is the most demanding character he has portrayed so far. The role not only tested him emotionally and physically but also pushed him to explore a completely different dimension of his craft.

Born and brought up in Chandigarh, Ramandeep completed his studies in Mass Communication while actively pursuing cricket. A talented player during his younger days, he represented the Chandigarh district team in several tournaments organised by the Haryana Cricket Association. Although the sport remained a major part of his life, his growing love for performance gradually shifted his focus towards acting.

His fascination with storytelling eventually led him to professional theatre, where he became associated with Chandigarh based theatre group Satvik Arts. The years spent performing on stage proved invaluable, giving him the confidence and discipline that would later help him survive the highly competitive entertainment industry.

Looking back, Ramandeep believes theatre became the strongest foundation of his acting career.

After moving to Mumbai, like thousands of aspiring actors, he spent years attending auditions, facing rejection and waiting for opportunities that often seemed just out of reach. Financial uncertainty, loneliness and self doubt became constant companions during those struggling years. There were occasions when he seriously considered returning home, unsure whether his dream would ever become reality.

Despite the hardships, he refused to give up.

Support from his family and his belief in his own abilities kept him going through the difficult phases of his career. Every audition, every rejection and every small role became part of the learning process that eventually prepared him for bigger opportunities.

That opportunity finally arrived with Raakh.

Speaking about the project, Ramandeep described the series as much more than a conventional crime drama. According to him, the story explores human emotions, survival, pain and the difficult choices people make under extraordinary circumstances.

He believes Rajjo is one of the most layered characters he has ever portrayed.

“Rajjo is one of the most difficult characters I have played. Every scene demanded complete honesty because the audience needed to connect with his emotions and understand his journey. I wanted people to feel what Rajjo goes through rather than simply watch him on screen.”

The actor explained that preparing for Rajjo required much more than memorising dialogues or understanding the script.

Together with director Prosit Roy and the creative team, he spent several weeks developing the character’s emotional journey. Many aspects of Rajjo’s personality were not explicitly written in the screenplay. Instead, they were carefully created during rehearsals to ensure every scene reflected the character’s internal struggles with authenticity.

Ramandeep said Rajjo belongs to Haryana and comes from a deeply patriarchal environment where ideas of masculinity shape every aspect of life. To fully understand the role, the team discussed what Rajjo’s childhood may have looked like, the emotional wounds he carried and the circumstances that eventually forced him to leave his home.

Those conversations helped him understand the psychology behind the character rather than simply portraying his actions.

According to the actor, Rajjo should not be viewed as a stereotypical villain.

Instead, he sees him as someone shaped by violence, survival and circumstances beyond his control.

He believes that understanding a character’s emotional history allows audiences to connect with them on a much deeper level, even when their actions appear morally questionable.

The actor also recalled how receiving the audition itself became one of the biggest moments of his professional journey.

“My first reaction was excitement because I knew I was being tested for one of the lead roles. Every actor who comes to Mumbai dreams of getting an opportunity like this. I decided from the very beginning that if I got this chance, I would give everything I had.”

That commitment eventually translated into one of the most emotionally demanding performances of his career.

Among all the scenes in Raakh, one sequence continues to stay with him even after filming ended.

Ramandeep spoke about the emotionally intense scene in which Rajjo attacks Sahil with a sword after receiving instructions from Babu.

Initially, he expected the sequence to be filmed in several smaller shots. However, director Prosit Roy surprised the cast by deciding to shoot it almost entirely in a one take approach, allowing emotions to flow naturally without interruption.

The sequence eventually required four complete takes.

By the final take, Ramandeep said he had completely immersed himself in Rajjo’s emotional state.

“I genuinely felt as though I had killed someone. Performing that sequence four times took an emotional toll on me. Even today, when I think about it, I remember the shiver I felt during that performance. Those emotions were completely real.”

He added that viewers may notice those genuine emotions reflected in Rajjo’s eyes during the scene because nothing about that particular moment felt manufactured.

The emotional exhaustion remained with him even after filming wrapped.

For Ramandeep, the experience reinforced the importance of emotional honesty in performance.

He credits director Prosit Roy for creating an environment where actors were encouraged to truly experience emotions instead of merely acting them out.

According to him, that atmosphere allowed every member of the cast to perform with complete sincerity, contributing significantly to the show’s emotional depth.

Beyond the performances, Ramandeep believes teamwork played a crucial role in bringing Raakh to life.

From the director to the technical crew, everyone worked towards creating an authentic world where every character felt believable.

That collaborative effort, he says, made it easier for actors to stay emotionally invested throughout the production.

The success of Raakh also represents another important milestone in Ramandeep’s steadily growing career.

After appearing in projects such as Manmarziyaan and CAT, the actor believes Rajjo has allowed him to establish himself as someone capable of portraying psychologically complex and emotionally layered characters.

He also feels that the growth of OTT platforms has transformed opportunities for actors across the industry.

According to him, digital storytelling has created space for performers who may not necessarily fit conventional commercial cinema stereotypes but possess the ability to bring authenticity to challenging roles.

Expressing gratitude for the appreciation he has received, Ramandeep thanked audiences for embracing Rajjo and understanding the emotional journey behind the character.

He said such encouragement motivates him to continue choosing meaningful stories that challenge him creatively rather than simply pursuing conventional roles.

As Raakh continues to receive attention, Ramandeep hopes audiences will stay connected with Rajjo’s story and recognise that beneath the violence lies a deeply human character shaped by pain, loss, survival and the search for redemption.

For the Chandigarh actor who once dreamed of wearing the Indian cricket jersey, the applause he is receiving today may be different from what he once imagined. Yet the journey reflects the same qualities that first drove him onto the cricket field: discipline, resilience and an unwavering determination to succeed against the odds.