12 years, countless auditions, repeated rejections: Meet Mumbai actor who once survived with only Rs 100 in his pocket. Now, he is winning hearts with his performance in a hit crime thriller. ‘The dream is worth chasing’

You would be lying if you didn’t shudder at Akash Makhija’s captivating performance in the Prime Video crime thriller Raakh. Although the series is headlined by Ali Fazal, Akash has stolen the spotlight for his barbaric stint as the antagonist Babu, a criminal, portrayed as someone who lacks a soul and conscience. The audience hated his character for all the horrors he committed and yet was simultaneously mind-blown by Akash’s sheer craft. But do you know that his journey to stardom was not that easy?

An unwavering determination, pushing through hurdles

According to a report by The Better India, Akash Makhija, born and raised in Mumbai, always harboured a deep passion for acting. With no industry connections, he joined RD National College in Bandra in 2011 and witnessed an advertisement audition on campus, which felt like a gateway to the world of glitz and glam for Akash.



At 17, Akash Makhija started travelling from Kalyan to Andheri every day in the hunt for auditions. But having no contacts or industry knowledge, he faced multiple rejections. While some told him that ‘he did not have the right look,’ others pointed out his lack of experience, reported The Better India. There were days when he survived on Rs 100 as well. Despite the challenges, Akash did not lose hope, consistently showing up at auditions for 12 years.

From small TV roles to an audience favourite

Akash Makhija’s relentless efforts finally paid off when he bagged a role in the crime-based TV series Gumrah, slowly making appearances in shows like Har Mard Ka Dard and Sargam Ki Sadhe Sati. Films such as Half Girlfriend, Bhaiyya Ji, and Bhool Chuk Maaf followed, while OTT projects like Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi and Gram Chikitsalay showcased his range.

For Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi and Gram Chikitsalay, Akash Makhija earned a Filmfare nomination, marking one of the biggest milestones of his career. As per The Indian Web Series website, Akash received a call for the audition of Raakh while shooting Gram Chikitsalay. Despite clearing 6 rounds and reaching the final shortlist, the role was given to someone else. However, after a mock shoot, the makers decided to recast the character and Akash finally landed the role of the infamous Babu and the rest is history.

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All about Raakh

For the unversed, Raakh is inspired by the real-life Ranga-Billa case, which shocked the National Capital in the 1970s. Ali Fazal slips into the shoes of sub-inspector Jayprakash, who is on a relentless manhunt for 2 menacing criminals, Babu and Rajjo (Ramandeep Yadav), for kidnapping and brutally murdering 2 teenagers - Suman and Sahil - the kids of Lt Col Ashok (Aamir Bashir) and Mona Arora (Sonali Bendre). Anshul Chauhan and Rakesh Bedi are also a part of Raakh, which premiered on Prime Video on June 12.