A journey through characters that reflect courage, depth, and quiet reinvention.

Some actors are remembered not for the number of roles they play, but for the kind of risks they take. Rajeev Khandelwal belongs to that rare group. From television fame to cinema and the digital world, he has never shied away from stepping into spaces where certainty fades and challenges arise. On his birthday, it feels right to look back at the roles that shaped his image as an artist unafraid of vulnerability, darkness, and change.

The Leap Into Cinema: Aamir (2008)

Rajeev’s first film was no conventional Bollywood debut. Aamir gave him a tense, relentless character — an ordinary man caught in extraordinary circumstances. Playing a doctor trapped by terrorists, he carried the weight of the narrative almost entirely on his shoulders. The performance was raw, understated, and powerful. It proved that he could hold an audience without glamour, songs, or typical heroics.

Confronting Chaos: Shaitan (2011)

In Bejoy Nambiar’s Shaitan, Rajeev took on the role of Inspector Arvind Mathur. Surrounded by the reckless lives of urban youth, his calm yet firm presence became the anchor of the story. He portrayed a man of order in a world of chaos, revealing how authority can be both compassionate and unyielding. The film demanded restraint, and he delivered it with quiet force.

Fragility of Time: DOA: Death of Amar

Few roles test an actor like the one in DOA: Death of Amar. Playing a man poisoned and racing against time to find his killer, Rajeev had to constantly shift between fear, desperation, and determination. The story unfolded like a puzzle, and his performance gave it urgency. It was a reminder of how he can carry suspense not just with words, but with silences and expressions that linger.

Emotional Crossroads: Salt Bridge (2015)

Salt Bridge placed him in the shoes of an immigrant, caught between cultures and emotions. As Basant, he explored loneliness, longing, and the delicate line between friendship and desire. The role was soft in tone but heavy in feeling, asking him to communicate more through pauses than dialogues. It showcased his ability to inhabit subtle emotional landscapes.

Reinventing on the Web: Haq Se and Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala

The arrival of streaming platforms gave Rajeev new opportunities. In Haq Se, he explored layered storytelling, blending contemporary themes with human drama. Later, Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala brought him into the kitchen — and into a complicated love story. As Vikram, a celebrated chef confronting his past, Rajeev balanced charm with simmering pain. It was a role that asked for both lightness and gravity, and he delivered both with ease.

A Voice of Justice: Court Martial (2020)

Stepping into the courtroom drama Court Martial, Rajeev became Captain Bikash Roy, a defence lawyer battling prejudice and hidden truths. The role demanded clarity, conviction, and emotional steadiness. He gave the performance a sense of dignity that made it more than just a battle of arguments — it became a moral stand.

Haunted by the Past: Ateet (2020)

In Ateet, he returned as a soldier presumed dead, confronting the life left behind. It was a role soaked in grief and questions of identity. Rajeev portrayed the struggle of a man caught between the past and the present, carrying both anger and longing. His eyes did much of the talking, revealing wounds deeper than words could.