We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rakesh Galebhe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rakesh, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

All the projects that I was and being a part of it are meaningful projects. I have acted in around 20 short films. Worked with different film makers and teams. Few of the short films did very well in YouTube space , Some of them in Film festival circuit. I would be prefer getting accolades from audience is the biggest reward. The current feature length films that I’m being a part of are all meaningful projects which has lot of human emotions , sci-fi elements, Thrilling elements.

Rakesh, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

“In 2012, my journey into the world of filmmaking began when a couple of friends cast me in their directorial venture short film. To my surprise, the film became an overnight sensation upon its release on YouTube. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from Mr. Productions, a renowned production house with a prolific history of crafting 100 short films. Subhash and Dheeraj, the driving forces behind Mr. Productions, approached me to star in another one of their short films, which, like its predecessors, achieved remarkable success. This collaboration marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership, leading me to feature in nearly seven more short films under their banner.

Upon completing this chapter, I pursued higher education in the USA, but fate intervened once again when Subhash and Dheeraj offered me the lead role in their milestone 100th short film, signaling their transition into the realm of feature films. ‘Prayanam,’ our crowning achievement, resonated deeply with audiences on YouTube and garnered acclaim on the festival circuit.

My journey continued stateside, where I established a filmmaking team while pursuing my academic endeavors. During this time, serendipity introduced me to Kiran Kondamadugula, the visionary director behind my breakout feature film, ‘Gatham,’ currently captivating audiences on Netflix.

Collaborating on ‘Gatham’ was an immersive experience, characterized by intensive workshops and meticulous preparation. Its release on Amazon in November 2020 was met with widespread acclaim, culminating in the coveted IFFI award for Best Film.

As fate would have it, Kiran entrusted me with the lead role in his next project, a script so compelling it left me in awe. My portrayal in ‘ID’ garnered widespread recognition, earning numerous awards, including Best Actor accolades at over 30 film festivals.

Transitioning seamlessly to my third feature, ‘Rahasyam idham Jagath (The Universe is Mystery)’, directed by Komal Bharadwaj, proved to be a transformative experience. Special mentions, the First Indian (South Asian) film completely produced in Portland OR, capturing the gorgeous terrains of Northwest. The film is a sci-fi thriller promises to captivate audiences with its emotional depth and edge of the seat suspense.

Currently, we are in the final stages of post-production, with plans for a release later this year. And with my fourth collaboration with Kiran on the horizon, I eagerly anticipate unveiling our latest cinematic endeavor to the world in the coming months.”

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Yes, definitely! I would love to share some amazing experiences from the filming of ‘Gatham.’ We shot some action sequences for the film, which was my first time doing action scenes. One sequence involved me being thrown onto a tea table. To capture this, we had three cameras set up to shoot the scene from different angles. Despite being cautious, I was initially nervous. When the director said ‘action,’ I was thrown onto the table. After the sequence, there was a dialogue other actor had to deliver. Once the scene was completed, I made sure I wasn’t injured. It was scary, but filming that sequence was totally worth it.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

1. Acting allows me to explore and express a wide range of emotions, characters, and stories. This creative outlet can be incredibly fulfilling.
2. The ability to move and connect with audiences on an emotional level can be deeply gratifying. Knowing that your performance has impacted someone positively is often cited as a significant reward.
3. Each role offers an opportunity to learn something new, whether it’s about human nature, a specific skill, or a historical period. This continuous learning and self-discovery can be very rewarding.
4. Receiving praise from peers, critics can be very gratifying. Awards and accolades, while not the primary goal for many, are an appreciated recognition of hard work and talent.
5. Acting often involves diverse and exciting experiences, from traveling to new locations for shoots to stepping into different lifestyles and eras through various roles.
6. Actors often have a platform to raise awareness about important issues and advocate for causes they believe in, making a positive difference in the world beyond their performances.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_rakeshgalebhe_/