Sambhaji Sasane Earns Praise for His Intense Role as Suraj in Rubaab

Sambhaji Sasane, who has appeared in films such as Wagherya, B.E. Rojgaar, and Love & Shukla, is currently earning praise for his role as Suraj in the Marathi film Rubaab, which has now entered its fifth week in theatres. Speaking about his character, Sasane said, “Suraj is a fiercely self-respecting young man with a natural swagger and deep emotional intensity. He returns home carrying unresolved feelings, particularly in his relationship with his father, who never supported his decision to marry his first love, Madhuri. What intrigued me as an actor is that beneath Suraj’s tough exterior lies a deeply emotional person who values loyalty and honesty. For him, love, pride, and dignity are closely intertwined, and that is what gives the character his ‘Rubaab’.”

Discussing his preparation for the role, Sasane revealed that he spent several weeks in the town where the story is set. “I stayed in Atpadi for more than three weeks to understand the local dialect, observe the people, and absorb the rhythm of life there. Since Suraj comes from that environment, it was important for me to experience it firsthand rather than simply imagine it.” He also shared that director Shekhar Rankhambe follows a unique storytelling approach, narrating the film’s story instead of providing the actors with a written script.

“Interestingly, I never had the script in my hands. My director prefers to narrate the story repeatedly instead of giving us a script to read. So my preparation became more about listening and internalizing the story than studying it on paper.”

The actor also recalled an unexpected moment during the filming of a fight sequence. “We had rehearsed the stunt choreography with trained performers, but on the day of the shoot they couldn’t make it. So we filmed the scene with local boys who had never performed choreographed action before. In the excitement, things got a little too real. A few punches landed harder than expected, and I ended up taking some genuine hits. My ribs and back remained sore for nearly a month afterward. But I don’t blame them—they were simply excited to be part of the shoot.”

Speaking about the audience’s response to the film, Sasane said, “The reaction has been very encouraging. Many people have connected with Suraj, especially the way he approaches love and relationships. For me, the most meaningful feedback is when someone tells me the character felt real to them. That’s the greatest reward an actor can receive.”

He added that staying together during the shoot helped the cast bond and better understand the film’s world. “We stayed in Atpadi for almost three weeks, so naturally we became a close-knit team. After shooting, we would often walk around nearby villages, observe people, and interact with locals. Those experiences helped us collectively build the world of the film.”