"You guys have no idea what you've done," Akash Makhija recalls Rajkummar Rao's surprise call after watching Raakh in an IMDb Exclusive

Raakh, the gritty crime drama that has struck a chord with audiences, features Akash Makhija and Ramandeep Yadav in breakout performances that have earned them the IMDb “Breakout Star” STARmeter Awards. In an exclusive interaction with IMDb, the duo reflected on the journeys that led them to acting, the projects they wish more audiences would discover, and the memorable appreciation they received following the success of the series.

Recalling the moment that first inspired him to pursue acting, Makhija shared that it all began with an iconic comedy character. “When Hera Pheri came out, I was absolutely captivated, perhaps even obsessed, by Paresh Rawal’s character, Baburao. I used to mimic him every single day. I even declared at home that I would become an actor. It’s funny to think that it all started with that Baburao character, and now, here I am, having played the role of Babu.”

Yadav, on the other hand, revealed that acting was never part of his original plan. “My initial plan was actually to pursue sports. I was into cricket, and it never even crossed my wildest dreams that I would enter the entertainment industry or take up acting. I wanted to represent India.” He added, “Arshdeep is my batchmate and friend, and Vaibhav Arora, who plays for KKR, is also a friend of mine. But sometimes things just don't work out. Perhaps God had something else in store for you.” Speaking about his acting journey, he said, “I ventured into acting after college and did theatre in Chandigarh for seven or eight years, while continuing to audition. My first role was a small part in Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan.”

The actors also highlighted some of their earlier work that they believe deserves more attention. Makhija said, “I have been a voice actor, and I want people to check out Kaali Aawazein on IMDb, which I did with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. I just want people to know about that as well.” Yadav encouraged audiences to revisit two contrasting performances from his career. “I want people to watch Campus Diaries and, at the same time, Cat, because in Cat I play a Sardar. I portray the character of Saba and speak Punjabi. That role is very different from Rajjo. Even in terms of acting range, the two roles are completely distinct.”

Sharing one of the most memorable reactions he received for Raakh, Makhija revealed that actor Rajkummar Rao personally reached out to him after watching the series. “I received a message from Rajkummar Rao on Instagram asking me to send him my number. He called me and said, ‘You guys have no idea what you've done.’”