Rajesh Tailang, who portrayed the father of Guddu Bhaiya (Kaleen Bhaiya’s right-hand man) and Bablu in *Mirzapur: The Movie*, is delighted with the film’s success. An actor who works across cinema, digital platforms, and theatre, he shared his guiding principle for working on any platform.
**What is Rajesh’s guiding principle?**
Currently rejoicing in the success of *Mirzapur: The Movie*, Rajesh Tailang says that his theatre background has always instilled a confidence in him: that no matter how he appears on screen, he will leave a lasting impression. He adds, “Regardless of the medium, I will never compromise on my sincerity.”
Rajesh, who will soon be seen in the series *Paan Parda Zarda* and *Kaarnaame*, continues, “Many people think I am satisfied with my work, but that isn’t the case. An artist is never truly satisfied. While I do practice appearing content, I have my own aspirations too. Just as people loved *Mirzapur: The Movie*—there is nothing better than being part of something that reaches the widest possible audience.”
**Why is a film’s box office performance important?**
He says, “I have often seen artists do excellent work that simply never reaches the world. That is why commercial success matters to every artist. Whether a project is small or big, it needs to reach the people.”
**How well can Rajesh gauge a story’s potential just by reading it on paper?**
He explains that his theatre training proves invaluable here. Theatre teaches one how to interpret a script. It involves extensive reading of literature; the more one reads, the more one’s understanding of how to portray a character develops. Sometimes, a character written on paper isn’t immediately clear, but a conversation with the director helps clarify many things.
**The challenge faced while working on ‘Bakaiti 2’**
Elaborating on this, Rajesh said, “Both your own understanding and the director’s support are essential. Take the second season of *Bakaiti* (released on ZEE5), for instance; everything was so well-written in the script that I enjoyed reading it right away. The challenge for me was whether I could successfully translate what was written onto the screen. An actor also tries to bring their own perspective to the role; sometimes the director accepts it, and sometimes they don’t.”
“Working on this show reminded me a lot of my own joint family. I, too, belonged to a large family when I was young—uncles, cousins, the whole extended clan. There was a unique joy to it, along with the occasional squabbles. My parents often didn’t even know where we were playing or where we’d eaten. The concept of ‘privacy’ didn’t really exist back then. Nowadays, in nuclear families, parents get anxious if their children are out of sight for even a couple of minutes.”
Rajesh is currently appearing in the ZEE5 family comedy-drama *Bakaiti 2*. The series has been streaming on ZEE5 since September 25, 2026. Alongside Tailang, Sheeba Chaddha, Tanya Sharma, and Aditya Shukla play pivotal roles in the show. Its first season was released in August 2025.
