Aditya Rawal reveals how a former addict shaped his performance in Daldal

Aditya Rawal is earning unanimous praise for his chilling turn as Sajid a drugaddicted serial killer in Daldal The Amazon Prime Video investigative thriller created by Suresh Triveni and directed by Amrit Raj Gupta also stars Bhumi Pednekar and Samara Tijori and stands apart for probing the why behind serial killings rather than merely revealing the whoAt the centre of this unsettling narrative is Rawalrsquos deeply internalised performance mdash raw fractured and disturbingly human The actor admits that from the moment he came on board he knew Sajid would demand extensive preparation and emotional responsibilityUnderstanding the mind of an addictRawal reveals that even before he began his personal research director Amrit Raj Gupta had already initiated discussions with a psychologist to ensure the portrayal stayed grounded But what proved transformative was his association with Brian a former addict who has been sober for three decades and runs a rehabilitation centreldquoI knew I would have to go to rehab centres and really understand the mindset beyond just observing situations watching material or reading about itrdquo Rawal says ldquoWhen I went to Brianrsquos rehab centre the Freedom Center I realised how open he was He has lived through those journeys and was incredibly willing to talk about themrdquoImpressed by Brianrsquos honesty and lived experience Rawal suggested bringing him on board as a consultant for the show The makers agreedldquoIf somebody like him could be on set and help us with the physical details the authenticity of drug use withdrawal the behaviour I felt that would really elevate the performancerdquo he explains ldquoSuresh sir Amrit sir and the entire team were very open to that suggestionrdquoBrian was present during every scene that involved drug use or withdrawal offering realtime guidance ldquoAnything that can help you improve your performance and add more detail is of primary importancerdquo Rawal addsFor his preparation Rawal visited the Freedom Center twice met Brian multiple times and also spent time at other rehabilitation centres This was followed by detailed readings and discussions with the directorldquoOnce yoursquore on set yoursquove taken in all the knowledge you can Thatrsquos when itrsquos time to apply it and express yourselfrdquo he says ldquoAmrit is the guiding light Suresh sir is the showrunner and Brian was there too You felt very safe There were always people to tell you if something was too much too little or not quite rightrdquo He describes the process as one of constant calibration ldquoYou keep tightening it like pulling a rubber band until it snaps That was really the preparationrdquoNavigating visibility as a star kidDespite being the son of veteran actor Paresh Rawal Aditya prefers to stay away from the glare of constant public visibility a choice he says comes naturally to him rather than being a calculated strategyAditya Rawal has consistently shone with his performance in films like Bamfaad Faraaz and web series Bambai Meri Jaan However he is hardly seen captured by the paparazzi or living a loud PR driven lifeldquoI also write I do theatre most of the time Irsquom just busy workingrdquo he shares ldquoWhen I unwind I want to read a good book or watch a good film Irsquom quite comfortable in my own skin and Irsquom comfortable being alone with myselfrdquoInterestingly Rawal believes a certain distance from the spotlight actually serves an actor well ldquoIf yoursquore not constantly in peoplersquos faces outside of your work they can really invest in your charactersrdquo he says ldquoOtherwise it becomes lsquoOh Irsquove already seen this person a thousand times on reelsrsquordquoThat said he acknowledges the need for balance ldquoYou have to be seen enough to be considered viable but also maintain a bit of intrigue That curiosity about you thatrsquos importantrdquo