Ashutosh Rana finds himself in an interesting phase of his career - after playing a pivotal role in Rohit Shetty's over-the-top universe of Simmba, the actor will be seen in Abhishek Chaubey's Sonchiriya, a gritty dacoit drama. "What more can an actor ask for but characters of varied temperaments? Commercial cinema is getting real, so it is a good time for artistes like me," says Rana.

Ever since Sonchiriya's trailer released, there has been curiosity about his role, with fans wondering if Rana is back to doing what he does best - exploring a grey character. "It's an interesting character with different shades to it," he says in measured words, careful to not divulge too many details. "Abhishek is known for his raw dramas. Plus, when you have co-stars like Manoj Bajpayee, the finest actor of our times, and youngsters like Sushant Singh Rajput and Bhumi Pednekar who are known for their acting prowess, things work out for the good."