Actor Patralekhaa, who recently earned critical acclaim for her portrayal in Phule, has opened up about the persistent professional struggles she continues to face, despite being such a terrific performer.
In a candid conversation with Galatta India, Patralekhaa admitted that her individual identity is often overshadowed by her marital status. “I really hate it, just to be called Rajkummar Rao’s wife. I detest it, and I feel very small,” she said, adding in Hindi, “Kyunki mera ek naam hai… mera ek astitva hai.” (Because I have a name… I have an identity.) Patralekhaa pointed out the assumption many people make that her journey must have been easier because of her association with Rajkummar. “Kyunki aapko lagta hai meri zindagi aasaan ho sakti hai ki mere husband… ya mere tab ke boyfriend… itne famous thay. But it’s never easy if you are trying to establish yourself as an individual, to have your own career graph… it’s very difficult. (People assume my life must’ve been easy because my husband, or then boyfriend was so famous. But it’s never easy when you’re trying to build your own path and career graph. It’s very difficult.)”
The CityLights actor also made an earnest request to the media: stop reducing her to just a tag. “I’ll never be comfortable with it… I’ll fight it till the very end.”
Sharing another frustrating reality, she said, “Kabhi bhi log mere paas aate hai Raj tak pahuchne ke liye. Mere paas script lekar aate hai… not because they want me… but they want to cast him. Toh aapko samajh aata hai what’s the bait… ki aap Raj ke paas lekar jao… ye film aapki. (People often approach me only to reach Raj. They bring me scripts not because they want me, but because they want to cast him. And then it becomes clear what the bait is they want me to take it to Raj, and the film is mine.)”
Patralekhaa added that despite such approaches, she has always refused to involve Rajkummar Rao in projects that came to her with ulterior motives. “It’s below my dignity,” she said.
