Sambhaji Sasane Wins Praise for Role in Rubaab

Mumbai — Actor Sambhaji Sasane is receiving widespread appreciation for his powerful portrayal of Suraj in the Marathi film Rubaab, which has successfully completed five weeks in theatres. Known for his earlier appearances in films such as Wagherya, B.E. Rojgaar, and Love & Shukla, Sasane’s latest performance is being praised for its emotional depth and intensity.

In the film, Sasane plays Suraj, a fiercely self-respecting young man whose personality reflects both strength and vulnerability. Describing the character, the actor explained that Suraj carries a natural swagger but is also deeply emotional beneath his tough exterior.

“Suraj is someone who values dignity and loyalty above everything else,” Sasane shared. “He returns home with unresolved emotions, especially regarding his strained relationship with his father, who never supported his decision to marry his first love, Madhuri. For him, love, pride and self-respect are closely connected, and that’s what truly defines his ‘Rubaab.’”

The role required careful preparation, particularly because the film is rooted in a specific regional setting. To authentically portray Suraj, Sasane spent several weeks living in Atpadi, the town where the story unfolds.

According to the actor, immersing himself in the environment was essential to understanding the character. “I stayed in Atpadi for more than three weeks to observe the local lifestyle, listen to the dialect and understand the rhythm of daily life there. Since Suraj belongs to that world, it was important for me to experience it firsthand rather than simply imagine it,” he said.

Sasane also revealed that working with the film’s director, Shekhar Rankhambe, offered a unique creative experience. Instead of providing actors with a traditional written script, Rankhambe prefers to narrate the story repeatedly, allowing performers to absorb and internalize the narrative through listening.

“Interestingly, I never actually had the script in my hands,” Sasane recalled. “My director narrates the entire story multiple times instead of giving us written pages. That meant my preparation was more about carefully listening and emotionally internalizing the story rather than studying it from paper.”

During filming, Sasane also encountered an unexpected challenge while shooting a fight sequence. The action scene had initially been rehearsed with trained stunt performers, but when the scheduled stunt team could not make it to the set on the day of shooting, the filmmakers decided to complete the sequence with local participants.

“We ended up filming the scene with local boys who had never performed choreographed action before,” Sasane said with a smile. “They were very enthusiastic about being part of the film, but the excitement made things a bit unpredictable. Some punches landed harder than planned, and I ended up taking a few real hits.”

The actor revealed that the physical impact of the sequence lingered long after filming ended. “My ribs and back remained sore for almost a month. But I don’t blame them at all—they were simply thrilled to participate in the shoot,” he added.

Despite the physical challenges, Sasane says the audience’s response has made the effort worthwhile. Viewers have connected strongly with Suraj’s emotional journey, particularly his approach to love, pride and relationships.

“The response has been incredibly encouraging,” he said. “The most meaningful compliment for an actor is when someone tells you that the character felt real to them. That connection with the audience is the greatest reward.”

The actor also credited the close bond formed among the cast and crew during the shoot for enhancing the authenticity of the film. Since the team stayed together in Atpadi for nearly three weeks, they were able to build a strong sense of camaraderie.

“After our shooting hours, we often walked through nearby villages, observed people and interacted with locals,” Sasane shared. “Those experiences helped all of us understand the world of the film better and ultimately brought greater realism to our performances.”

With Rubaab continuing its theatrical run and audiences appreciating its grounded storytelling, Sambhaji Sasane’s portrayal of Suraj has emerged as one of the film’s most talked-about elements.