‘Raakh’ actor Ramandeep Yadav opens up on playing Rajjo inspired by the real-life Ranga-Billa case: ‘I didn’t want to know what led him there’
Ramandeep Yadav says losing out on a role in Vikramaditya Motwane’s ‘Black Warrant’ eventually led him to play Rajjo in Prime Video’s crime drama ‘Raakh’. The actor had auditioned for the same part, inspired by Kuljeet Singh (also known as Ranga), before landing the role in the new series. Yadav now sees the earlier rejection as a turning point that brought him to a character he believes was meant for him.According to Mid-day, Yadav plays Rajjo in ‘Raakh’, a fictional character shaped by the real-life Ranga-Billa case. The series follows a 1978 murder investigation in Delhi and stars Ali Fazal, Akash Makhija, and Ramandeep Yadav. Prime Video lists the show as an eight-episode crime drama set against the aftermath of the disappearance and murder of two teenagers.
Ramandeep Yadav on missing ‘Black Warrant’
Yadav said he did not view the missed opportunity as a setback after getting Rajjo. “Some projects don’t happen and you should be thankful for that,” he told Mid-day.The actor added that he believes the role came to him at the right time. “Maybe I was meant to meet Rajjo. I trust that whatever is meant for me will come to me,” he said.Yadav had earlier auditioned for the character in ‘Black Warrant’, the prison drama released in 2025, but he did not get the part. He later took on Rajjo in ‘Raakh’, which draws from the 1978 Ranga-Billa case involving the kidnapping and murder of siblings Geeta and Sanjay Chopra in Delhi.The show does not present Rajjo as a direct recreation of Ranga. Instead, it uses the real case as a starting point for its fictional narrative.
‘Raakh’ actor on playing Rajjo
Yadav said he did not conduct extensive research into Ranga’s past while preparing for Rajjo. He explained that he wanted to avoid looking for reasons that could soften the character’s crimes.“The moment you start researching too much, you start finding justifications,” Yadav said.He added, “I didn’t want to know what led him there because I wasn’t making a documentary on him.”‘Raakh’ is directed and executive-produced by Prosit Roy. The series also features Sonali Bendre, Aamir Bashir, and Akash Makhija. It is currently streaming on Prime Video.Yadav’s comments place his role in ‘Raakh’ within a larger personal journey, from missing one opportunity to finding a part that he now connects with more deeply.
