For 14 years, Akash Makhija followed the familiar struggle of countless aspiring actors in Mumbai—auditions, rejections, waiting, and persistence. That long journey took a dramatic turn with the project Raakh, which suddenly made him one of the most talked-about performers on Indian streaming platforms.
His role as Babu left viewers disturbed, intrigued, and in many cases outraged. The character sparked widespread discussion online, with social media engagement and search interest rising sharply, turning him from a familiar face into a widely recognised name.
In an interview with India Today, Makhija said he is still processing the response while trying to stay grounded. He admitted he is frequently on his phone reacting to the attention but also reminded himself that such phases may be temporary and should not lead to complacency.
He spoke about the years of struggle behind him, including financial uncertainty, repeated rejection, and watching peers move ahead while he continued auditioning. He said he never considered quitting because acting was his only path, and Raakh eventually became his breakthrough opportunity.
To prepare for the role of Babu, Makhija said he focused less on specific real-life cases and more on studying criminal psychology to build the character from scratch. He described the approach as making the character feel disturbingly ordinary—someone who could exist unnoticed in everyday life.
The performance has drawn strong reactions, with some viewers comparing his screen presence and expressive eyes to actors like Irrfan Khan, while others have likened his intensity to performances by Ashutosh Rana and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Makhija said such comparisons are deeply meaningful to him, as he grew up admiring those actors.
At the same time, the role has also attracted extreme reactions, including death threats, which he acknowledged while downplaying their seriousness.
He also recounted the long and uncertain casting process for Raakh, noting that hundreds of actors auditioned for the role. After multiple rounds of selection and rejection, he was eventually called back before finally being cast, a moment he described as overwhelming when he learned about the ensemble cast he would be working with.
Makhija said he does not follow strict acting rituals or method practices, instead describing his approach as “truthful pretending,” though he made minor physical adjustments to stay in character during filming.
He recalled one particularly intense sequence involving a car scene that required multiple takes and left a lasting emotional impact on everyone on set due to its disturbing nature.
Despite the success of Raakh, the actor said he currently has no new projects lined up and hopes the recognition will lead to further opportunities where he can showcase his range as a performer.
