New Delhi: Gulshan Devaiah, quite like his character in the upcoming film Jhansi Ka Rajkumar, doesn’t mind being a homemaker.
“If my partner or my wife made more money than me, I kind of like to slightly cut back, relax and cool my veins,” Devaiah told ThePrint.
But, the perspective wouldn’t have been the same ten years ago.
“Sometimes, when you see friends getting a job, drawing a certain salary, buying a house, a car, you start to feel it. These are the pressures men go through. It is there,” Devaiah said, admitting that he had also felt those things.
Jhansi Ka Rajkumar follows the life of a middle-class couple, Rajkumar and Devayani, who relocate from Delhi to Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, with their two kids. But they are hiding the fact that the wife is the breadwinner, while the man is the homemaker.
The film, helmed by Nicholas Kharkongor, also features Aspirants fame Namita Dubey. It is set to release this week on Waves, a digital streaming platform developed by Prasar Bharati.
The plot of the film is quite similar to that of Kareena Kapoor Khan-Arjun Kapoor’s 2016 rom-com Ki & Ka.
“But, our story is a bit more relatable to the lower-middle class. The woman has an annual salary of Rs 5 lakh from which she is running the house and doing savings as well. The couple in Ki & Ka had different challenges, our story showcases different challenges,” said Dubey, who revealed about being initially intimidated by Devaiah.
She described the film as a fun and entertaining social drama that audiences will be happy to watch.
“Jhansi Ka Rajkumar is a warm, comforting feeling,” Dubey added.
Devaiah’s perspective on women being sole breadwinners has also changed over the years.
He said when it comes to abilities and capabilities, women are just as competent.
As per the actor, women are breaking into fields that were once male-dominated, like marketing, sales, and even some areas in the film industry.
“For example, many producers today are women, and they’re making key decisions. We’re also seeing more women as DOPs —I recently worked with one on a project,” Devaiah said.
A challenging project
For the makers of Jhansi Ka Rajkumar, the biggest challenge was battling extreme weather conditions.
“We shot in Jhansi, Gwalior, and Bombay within 25 days, often in 50 degree Celsius heat,” recalled Dubey. “Outdoor shoots were madness, especially with the loo (hot winds) whipping through. People fell ill, some even collapsed, but somehow, we managed to wrap it up.”
For Devaiah, the scorching heat left quite an impression—literally.
“After one long day of shooting, I went for a cold shower and felt something weird. I checked the mirror and realized the left side of my bum was burned!” he said with a laugh.
Reflecting on his experience working with director Kharkongor, Devaiah highlighted the challenge of playing characters vastly different from the actors’ real-life backgrounds.
“None of us came from the worlds of the people we were portraying. It was all about creating an illusion,” he explained.
Devaiah was particularly intrigued by how Kharkongor would build this narrative.
“I was excited to see how he would bring something fresh and unique to the table. It’s always rewarding to work on a perspective that challenges you,” he added.
Known for his unconventional choices, Devaiah has carved a niche for himself with critically acclaimed roles in projects like Duranga (2022) and Ulajh (2024). In September this year, the actor celebrated his 14 years in the industry. He marked his debut with Anurag Kashyap’s That Girl in Yellow Boots — a film that premiered at festivals in 2010 before its theatrical release in 2011.
“It’s been a fantastic journey,” he said. “I always dreamed of making it to the movies, and to actually live that dream feels incredible.”
However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.
“In the beginning, I was very uncomfortable in my skin. Doing interviews, being myself—it felt terrifying. But I’ve overcome a lot, and I’m still evolving. My career could’ve been better, could’ve been worse, but I’m happy with where I am today,” Devaiah admitted.
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An OTT star
In contrast, Dubey’s journey to fame was marked by years of struggle. She told ThePrint that her early days were a constant battle with unemployment and financial instability.
“Months would pass without work. I was broke and frustrated. I’d reached a point where I was willing to take up anything just to keep going,” she said.
Dubey’s breakthrough came in 2016 with her first TV show Bade Bhaiyya Ki Dulhania. But after a brief stint as an actor, she took a two-year break in 2019, which left her struggling again. Just when she was ready to pack up and leave, Aspirants happened.
The 2021 web series became a turning point, opening doors to more opportunities for Dubey. The following year, she starred in the series Sisters alongside Ahsaas Channa, solidifying her position in the industry.
“My 20s were tough—no work, no money, no financial freedom. But now, things are finally looking up,” she said.
“Ab dheere dheere ped par fal lag rahe hain (Now finally the hard work is bearing fruit)”.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)