Arjun Rampal appears on Zoom, comfortably seated on a couch in his Goa home, framed by the lush greenery of the monsoon season. The peaceful backdrop reflects a slower, more mindful pace of life—one that seems to mirror Rampal’s current state of mind. Calm and grounded, he’s not here to discuss just fame or films, but rather the values that keep him anchored—authenticity over applause and the power of not always trying to please others.
After beginning his career in modeling, Arjun Rampal made his acting debut in 2001 with Rajiv Rai’s Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat. With over 20 years in the industry, he speaks with rare clarity—free of clichés or scripted humility. “Are you saying I was doing bad work before?” he jokes, when asked about entering a “new chapter.” Then he adds, “I don’t think it’s a new phase. Hopefully, you evolve with time. Now, I only choose films I’d genuinely enjoy watching.”
That shift is visible in his recent projects. Whether it’s his intense performance in Netflix’s Rana Naidu or his role in the upcoming espionage thriller Dhurandhar—where he stars alongside Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt—Arjun Rampal is focused on depth and complexity. He’s done playing it safe and no longer tries to predict what viewers want—he chooses films that speak to him.
Arjun Rampal believes trying to predict what audiences want often backfires. “If you assume what people will like, it usually fails,” he says. “You need to surprise them with something new—and that only happens when the story truly connects with you first.”
In his upcoming film, Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, Arjun Rampal shares the screen with a star-studded cast. But instead of feeling overshadowed, he thrives on the shared energy.
“It’s amazing to work alongside such talented actors,” says Rampal. “Everyone brought their best because they trusted Aditya’s vision. There were no egos—just teamwork to bring the story to life.”
Having starred in multi-hero films like Aankhen, Om Shanti Om, and Housefull. What’s different now is his mindset. “In the beginning, you work for approval,” he admits. “But that’s not the right reason. You should work because you love the process. Enjoy the journey and bring total honesty to your performance.”
Arjun Rampal stays grounded through family, nature, and a desire for a simple life. He says moving to Goa allowed his kids to enjoy the outdoors instead of being glued to screens.
During the interview, his son interrupts, asking to play Spider-Man on the PlayStation. Rampal, smiling with pride, says, “He’s really good at it,” and gently tells him to wait until the interview ends.
This small moment reflects how Arjun Rampal, once chasing fame, now values balance and mindfulness. Off-screen, just like recent Arjun Rampal films, he chooses honesty, presence, and purpose.
Maintaining relevance
Arjun Rampal understands that staying relevant in the evolving film industry requires constant reinvention. “You have to update like software,” he says, stressing the need to adapt or risk becoming outdated. With shorter attention spans, he believes storytelling today must be more real and emotionally engaging.
That realism is reflected in several Arjun Rampal films, including Panjab 95, based on activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, and The Rapist, a powerful drama by Aparna Sen. He also stars in Blind Game, O Saathi Re (a Netflix series with Imtiaz Ali), and two commercial thrillers by Abbas-Mustan.
Rampal praises the creative minds behind these projects—Aparna Sen, Imtiaz Ali, and Aditya Dhar—as well as co-stars like Ranveer Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, and R. Madhavan. For Arjun Rampal, collaborating with such talent makes the work exciting and meaningful.
