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Playing to win

Rahul Bose on his passion for rugby, cinema and philanthropy

JUST CHILL Rahul Bose strikes a pose — PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

Suave, spirited and "compromising death", Rahul Bose looks all of it that he endorses for the timekeeper Xylys. "Rugby has taught me how to lose , that it's the journey that matters and not the goal. It taught me teamwork and leadership," says Bose, who was in town to inaugurate the brand's hi-tech showroom.

And what's common between Saira Mohan, Carlos Moya and him, pat comes the reply, "the power of X. Doing things on your own terms."

But wasn't he against buying watches, automobiles and house along with his resolution— of not acting in mainstream cinema? "It's a gift. I never actually bought myself a watch. I was offered categories such as mobile phones, jeans and others. I have nothing against them but I felt that those brands would have benefited more with the relationship. I was comfortable on various levels working with the group. During my advertising days I worked with Tata Sons and was impressed by their philanthropy. Ninety per cent of the work they do is so quiet," says the actor who is incidentally the World Youth Peace ambassador, as also brand ambassador with Spastics Society of India (now National Resource Centre for Inclusion). From endorsing brands, sports, philanthropy to theatre and now films, life has been a full circle for the `alternative hit machine' to be featured on the Time magazine. So, has he seen himself evolve as an actor with his White Noise and Chameli? "These were decidedly passive compared to the female roles. I am doing films where I play central roles," he says. "There is Merchant-Ivory Production The Whisperers where Manoj (Bajpai) and I share the screen time. Merchant was a dear friend. It is such an irony that I am doing two international films, including the Hollywood flick Road to The Sky, after his death. I am also doing Pyar Ke Side Effects and Kal Purush," he says. Does Being Cyrus herald a ray of hope for the alternative cinema?

"It's Saif. You need to have a mass actor to get mass eyeballs," he concludes.

SYEDA FARIDA

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