Mumbai, 13 Oct

Raghav Juyal, star of ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’, says he wants to become the biggest superstar in the country, inspired by his idol Shah Rukh Khan. Hailing from Dehradun, Juyal has made his mark in films like ‘ABCD 2’, ‘Kill’, and the Netflix series directed by SRK’s son, Aryan Khan.

“I want to be the biggest superstar on this planet. I won’t settle for anything less. If I achieve more, that will be God’s grace,” Juyal told PTI. “I’ve fought with everyone to get here, and I come from Dehradun. As I like to say, ‘Agar okhlee mein sar de diya, to muslo se kya ghabrana?’”

First noticed on ‘Dance India Dance’ in 2011, Juyal calls SRK “the epitome of success” and recalls visiting Mannat as a fan. “Almost every week, I used to go just to see Mannat and feel that sense of wonder... To be there and then meet him was surreal,” he said.

For ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’, Juyal plays Parvaiz, a close friend of aspiring actor Aasmaan Singh. Though initially sceptical about the role, Aryan Khan convinced him to join. “He said, ‘Brother, I have full faith in you. We’ll work on this together.’ That gave me confidence,” Juyal said.

The character was inspired by one of Aryan’s friends. A standout scene in episode three shows Parvaiz meeting his idol, Emraan Hashmi, and performing ‘Kaho Na Kaho’ in a mix of Hindi and Arabic. Juyal revealed he aced it in one take. “When someone you regard as your god stands in front of you… I cried. The first time Emraan sir saw it, he immediately went with the flow,” he said.

Juyal credits the series for new opportunities. “Because of this project, Shah Rukh sir offered me a very important role in a big film,” he shared, though he could not reveal details.

On the insider-outsider debate in Bollywood, Juyal said, “I’ve never paid much attention. I’ve just worked hard on myself. Effort and sincerity matter everywhere.”

He is also set to appear in the Telugu film ‘The Paradise’ with Nani. “The film is meticulously crafted, a mix of romance and tragedy. It’s opening new doors for me,” he said.

From dancer and host to films like ‘ABCD 2’ and ‘Street Dancer 3D’, Juyal reflects on his journey: “When I came to Mumbai, I wanted to become big. I realised acting is a deep craft, and this journey has shaped me as an artist.”