Rajneesh Duggal: ‘I love the way Hrithik dances’

After around 600 ramp shows for designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Arjun Khanna, Manish Malhotra, Ravi Bajaj, Rohit Gandhi, JJ Valaya, Vikram Phadnis, Rocky S, Suneet Verma, Hugo Boss, Cartier, Ermenegildo Zegna and Nautica, this dashing model-turned-actor is all set to step into Bollywood with Vikram Bhatt’s period film 1920.

“I play a Hindu boy who has to take on his family, God, and even the devil for his love,” reveals Rajneesh. He feels lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Vikram Bhatt in his debut film. “Vikram is a good director. Working on the film was a brilliant experience. Though acting school teaches you a lot, it’s nowhere close to how much you learn when you are on the sets,” he says.

Rajneesh talks about the excitement that surrounded the sets of his first film. “We shot at a castle in Yorkshire. What we didn’t know was that the castle was listed in the ten most haunted places in Europe. Nobody besides the production guys knew about this,” he says. Talking about the experience, he says, “There was a passage in the castle which had a really weird light. Twice or thrice, a production guy tried switching on the light. But that didn’t happen. However, as soon as the guy turned around, the light was on! We asked the manager whether there were any sensors, but he answered in the negative. Thank God, it was our last day there.”

So, what’s his take on spirits? “I do believe in spirits, but I don’t get scared. My faith in God is too strong. I believe what has to happen will happen,” he says. On the sets of 1920, the newcomer had a close shave with death, but it was probably this inherent faith that helped him overcome all odds. “There was a scene where I had to go downhill in a Buick. It was a 1923 or 1933 model. Just as I reached the bottom of the hill, the brakes got jammed. There was nothing I could do, and there were ten people standing right in front with the camera and a lot of people were on both sides of the car. It was a narrow escape, and thankfully no one was hurt,” says the shaken actor.

Rajneesh will next be seen in a Girish Dhamija film with Urmila Matondkar and Parvin Dabas. “The name hasn’t yet been decided. There will be two more girls in the film who are to be finalised,” is all he is ready to disclose.

Meanwhile, the hot hunk is getting ready to set the dance floor on fire. “I’m learning dancing and I love it,” he says. “I love the way Hrithik dances, and what I’m learning is something similar.” So, all you out there, get ready for some hip-shaking moves now!