As parts of Bollywood try to paint the picture of an alpha hero, Rohit Saraf has carved a niche for himself, filling the space of the Gen Z rom-com star. At just 27, Saraf’s filmography is the ultimate watchlist, from his multi-season show on Netflix, Mismatched, to his recent silver screen takeover with Ishq Vishq Rebound.
Since childhood, the actor has had a soft corner for dancing. His father envisioned him as an on-screen charmer and would always ask Saraf to pursue a career in the industry. Saraf was only 12 when his father passed away, and to bring his dream to life, he gave acting a chance and moved to Mumbai. “I felt a deep desire to fulfil his dreams. When I first started acting, I realised how much I loved it. Once I started performing on camera, I knew there was no turning back.”
Kabir in Dear Zindag, Ishaan in The Sky Is Pink, and Raghav in Ishq Vishq Rebound, but what stands out more than the iconic characters he plays is his quest to make them his own. One major reason Saraf took up The Sky is Pink is how he resonated with the character. “I truly share that kind of bond with my own siblings. The film is very close to my heart because it talks about death and loss, which not many people like to discuss. It tries to look at the silver lining without romanticising the pain. As a kid who has lost his father at a young age, it was almost cathartic for me to be a part of that film.”
Saraf has learned to create magic with his characters, earning the badge of the ultimate chocolate boy, which he finds very endearing. “I’ve grown up hearing people call other stars chocolate boys and all kinds of nicknames. It comes from a place of love and pushes the actors to do better. I enjoy hearing these terms for myself, and I hope to continue to do good work.”
A self-acclaimed sucker for romcoms, he loves being able to portray the same energy on-screen. “I really cherish being in romantic films and would love to continue doing them for the long run. I think this genre is universal; everyone understands it, everyone wants it, everyone loves it.”
Amid all the glitz, glam, and constant camera flashes, Saraf is trying to create work-life balance and some form of self-care. The actor tries to squeeze time for treks in his busy schedule and take lots of photographs, which he is very passionate about. “It’s something that I always thought I would do if I was not an actor.”
When he isn’t in front of the screen getting an iced coffee splashed on his face (IYKYK), you will find him humming some tunes. “I enjoy listening to music a lot more than anything; you will see me the happiest when I am listening to beats and rhythms. So much that I would travel worldwide for concerts.”
With a mere glance at his Instagram, you notice how easygoing he is, something that he brought to the sets of ELLE as well. “I truly enjoyed interacting with each and every single person who is a part of this shoot– who made this shoot look the way it did. And donning these cool looks by ASOS was the cherry on top. ASOS is one of the brands I’ve been shopping from for years now, and I’m so excited that it’s come to India.”
On Rohit Saraf: Double-breasted relaxed fit suit ASOS exclusively available AJIO. 9060 Triple white sneakers by New Balance White t-shirt (stylist’s own).
We end the interview with a sneak peek into his upcoming projects, which he is super proud of and excited about. “I’m thrilled to be working on Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari with Dharma Productions, directed by Shashank Khaitan. I’m also fortunate to be a part of Thug Life with Mani Ratnam, which is a very different and exciting experience for me. Apart from this, season three of Mismatched will be hitting Netflix soon.” With such meaty titles lined up, it’s no wonder his fans are eager to see more of him, both on and off-screen.
ELLE India Editor: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi; Photographer: Amitava Saha; Creative Director & Creative Producer: Priyadarshini Patwa; Video Director: Kashiff’ A Khan; Stylist: Selman Fazil; Hair: Tanik Singh Make-up: Imtiaz Sheikh; Cover Design: Alekha Chugani; Words by: Ekta Sinha; Bookings Coordinator: Anushka Patil; Brand Coordinator: Rhea Sanil; Assisted by: Sushiru Yaikhom (Styling); Production: Nafromax Productions, Deepti Hiranandani, Aanchal Jain & Firoz Amir Haveliwala; Artist Reputation Management: Raindrop Media
