Actor Rajeev Khandelwal, long celebrated for his work on Indian television and films, is now making his presence felt in the OTT space. In the latest episode of SCREEN’s Dear Me… Season 2, he reflected on his showbiz journey and also spoke candidly about being an atheist, sharing how people around him have responded to his spiritual beliefs.
Talking about being an atheist, Rajeev said, “I would call myself someone who is agnostic. I respect others and their religion. But I have never believed in God, and I don’t pray.”
Rajeev Khandelwal went on to share how during Kahiin Toh Hoga fans tried to change his belief system. Rajeev recalled, “When I was doing Kahiin Toh Hoga, I used to feel terrible because a lot of people came to know I am an atheist, and they would forcibly come and put religious things in my house. I remember there was a woman who had come and put a picture of God at the exit door. It was put above the light switch, so that by chance, when I switched off the light, my hand would touch the picture. I used to feel bad for them. I didn’t want to remove it. People would send me Ganpati idols, and I would politely say that I don’t believe.”
He added, “People’s love is amazing. They would sometimes say that keep it for us, and I would. I go to temples, I don’t have any issues in folding hands, but I am thinking of something else when I do that.”
Rajeev Khandelwal also shared how his family looks at his belief system. “My wife is god fearing, but she is not a strong believer. My parents were fake believers. They were God fearing. They would ask me to sit for pujas, but they were not believers that way. People around me know me very well. I respect people genuinely, and everyone is entitled to whatever they are doing, and nobody is superior. That is more important than believing in God.”
In the interview, held at Hunky Dory Restaurant in Malad, Mumbai, Rajeev Khandelwal also spoke about staying true to himself and upholding his principles throughout his journey.
