I never chased stardom, I chased growth: Rahil Azam on how he decided to direct during his break from Anupamaa

Rahil Azam; Rahil with Preeti Chaudhary during Shiddat launch

For most actors, a break from a successful television show means slowing down. For Rahil Azam, it became the perfect opportunity to pursue a dream he has nurtured since childhood. Currently on a break from Anupamaa, the actor has stepped behind the camera. Rahil shares, “I wanted to be a director since childhood, so now I’m taking baby steps towards that dream. I have made a four-minute music video, Shiddat. The idea came after months of creating and editing Instagram reels. I realised that if I could put so much effort into a 40-second reel, why not invest the same passion in a music video?”That said, acting will remain his first love. “Acting will always be my top priority,” he clarifies, adding that he has consciously resisted being boxed into one image throughout his career. “Even in the days of Hatim, I could have continued doing heroic roles. But I didn’t want to become one among the crowd. I wanted to learn.”That philosophy has guided every career decision he has made over the last 25 years. Instead of chasing popularity, Rahil deliberately chose unconventional characters that challenged him. “I knowingly accepted shows that wouldn’t get ratings because I wanted to grow, not become a superstar for three years and disappear. I wanted to grow step by step, show by show. That’s why I’ve survived for 25 years without any backing.”He adds, “My aim has always been to shatter the image of my last character with the next one. People shouldn’t recognise Rahil Azam — they should remember the character.” Box‘Shakti is an institution’

Whenever he feels creatively stuck, he turns to one film that continues to inspire him — Shakti, directed by Ramesh Sippy. “That film is an institution. The casting, performances, screenplay, editing and background score — everything is a masterpiece. Whenever I feel I’m missing something creatively, I watch it,” he says.