It’s a great fortune to bag a good role in a project, but the icing on the cake is being paired opposite experienced co-stars. For Anshumaan Pushkar, director Pulkit’s Maalik was a “great learning and exciting experience.” He says sharing screen space with Rajkummar Rao made things easier. “I have followed his work closely. He is a mentor and a great friend to have. His work ethic, commitment, and the way he mixes with his co-actors is admirable,” says the actor of Jamtara and 12th Fail fame.

Anshumaan Pushkar

In Maalik, the two actors portray pivotal roles, and their synergy on screen reflects their off-screen rapport. Pushkar recalls an incident that left a lasting impression on him, “In a particular scene, I was confused about [how to do my part]. After making sure that he is standing on cue, Rajkummar comforted me by saying I played exactly what was needed. On set, we often shared thoughts on the acting process. He pushed me to dig deeper as an actor and made me better.”