Arjun Rampal Leaned Into Real-Life Experiences—Including Chilling Anecdotes From Gangsters He’s Heard while Prepping For His Role In Rana Naidu S2
~ Season 2 dives deeper into danger, and Rampal’s Rauf might just be the most unhinged player in the game ~
It’s not every day that an actor prepares for a role by diving into stories as dark as someone hiding out in a morgue for a week. But for Arjun Rampal, it was these gritty, stranger-than-fiction scenarios that helped him shape one of his most twisted characters yet.
In the upcoming season of Rana Naidu, which begins streaming on Netflix from June 13, Rampal steps into the shoes of Rauf—a new antagonist who’s equal parts dangerous, darkly funny, and utterly unpredictable. But before signing on, Rampal needed some convincing. “I was sceptical at first,” he admits. “I wanted to understand the character’s journey and arc. Karan made me feel very, very comfortable. Then I binge-watched Season 1. The writing, the performances, the emotional undercurrents—it all just clicked.”
What ultimately sealed the deal was a deep creative conversation with the show’s creators—Karan Anshuman, Suparn Verma, and Abhay Chopra. Rauf wasn’t just another villain; he was a character loaded with contradictions, layered with menace and charm. “Rauf’s not your typical bad guy. He makes you think he’s a good guy and then he terrifies you.”
To bring that level of realism to screen, Rampal leaned into real-life experiences—including chilling anecdotes from gangsters he’s heard. “Some of the stuff I’ve heard is wild. One guy told me he hid in a morgue for a week to avoid getting caught,” he shares. “It sounds absurd, but that’s the point—the underworld isn’t just dark, it’s bizarre.”
In a season packed with emotional reckonings, shifting loyalties, and explosive showdowns, Rampal’s Rauf adds an entirely new flavor of danger—the kind that makes you grin even as it sends a chill down your spine.
After all, it’s the unexpected that leaves a mark. And in Rana Naidu Season 2, Arjun Rampal is here to make sure you expect the unexpected.
