Hansal refused to say cut: Rajkummar Rao on filming Omertà's most disturbing scene

Actor Rajkummar Rao has had a busy and successful 2017, as he starred in five films — Trapped, Bareilly Ki Barfi!, Newton, Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, Behen Hogi Teri — did a cameo in one (Raabta) and took over the online streaming space in and as (Subhash Chandra) Bose.

Rajkummar, who is known to put in extensive preparation for most of his roles, says that he ends up signing so many films as he is greedy for work. "It is tough [getting in and out of roles]. I wouldn't say that I prefer doing 5-6 films a year. But sometimes you become greedy, and I am a very greedy and hungry actor. If I see a good script, I don't want to let it go because I want to rest or sit at home," says Rajkummar. 

The actor will kick off 2018 with Hansal Mehta's Omertà, where he will be seen in the role of British terrorist of Pakistani origin Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh. Rajkummar had to dig deep to play a brutal character with no redeeming qualities. From getting his British accent right and bulking up to watching hate speeches to get into the right frame of mind, the actor did it all to get into his skin. 

In one of the most disturbing scenes from the film, Rajkummar's character is seen hacking a person to death and striking repeatedly even after he is dead. Rajkummar confesses that the scene took a lot out of him and it happened because his director refused to say cut. 

"It is very scary. I still get goosebumps thinking about that scene. With Hansal sir the thing is that we tend to improvise a lot. He doesn't say cut easily. And those were the scenes where he refused to say cut. For me, as an actor, whatever scene I am in, I am going to finish my job. And I just kept on doing what I was thinking as Omar. And it ended up becoming one of the most disturbing scenes that I have seen as an audience," says Rajkummar. 

"After cut, I met people and they were really moved... the DOP told me that it was very disturbing for him to shoot what was going on in that scene," he adds.

Omertà hits the screens on 20 April. 

Meanwhile, watch the full interview here where Rajkummar talks about whether he will take a break from working with his favourite director Mehta and his end goal of being able to do just one film in about two years.