Samarth Shandilya: Let's just say, Toofan brings a thunder in Rana Naidu

In the chaotic sprawl of Mumbai’s airport over a decade ago, a young aspiring actor stood still, eyes caught between two billboards - one of Salman Khan, the other featuring himself in a Samsung ad. “It was my first time in Bombay,” recalls Samarth Shandilya.

“And I saw that - Salman Khan on one side, and me right next to him. I thought, okay, this is a brilliant gesture by God. I guess I’m staying.”More than a decade later, the Delhi-born actor, who played a memorable supporting role in Netflix’s gritty crime series Rana Naidu, returns in Season 2 with a punchier character named fittingly Toofan. “They always smile when they hear that name,” he laughs. “And this time around, I am bringing a good storm in the show too.”Shandilya, who first moved to Mumbai in early 2011, is part of a growing crop of actors who’ve transitioned from theatre and modelling into films and OTT stardom - often quietly, always persistently. Known for his grounded presence and emotive range, he reflects on the city that has shaped him.“Delhi is my heart, but Bombay is where I work. I think Bombay has made me a better version of who I was. It tells you what your hidden talent is - it pushes you to your limit.

And in that process, you realise you’re not really competing with anyone else. You’re just competing with yourself. It’s beautiful and scary at the same time.”Before Mumbai, there was Delhi - and a different kind of fame. A print model with appearances across Delhi Metro hoardings, shopping malls, and major ad campaigns. He says,"Modelling was never really my thing. I wanted to be an actor.I think I was confident in who I was.

I was also already doing theatre, which helped me express myself beyond just posing.”

In Rana Naidu, Shandilya’s supporting turn in Season 1 was noticed and even won him a few awards. But he promises that Season 2 dials things up a notch. “It’s lighter in some ways, especially with the gore. The first season shocked a lot of people,” he says. This one has more drama, more action, and definitely more star power - Arjun Rampal, Kirti Kharbanda, Rajat Kapoor, Dino Morea.

It’s packed.And Toofan? “Let’s just say, he brings the thunder,” Shandilya grins.The part came to him during the pandemic when he sent in a self-taped audition. Soon after, the casting director called - Karan Anshuman, the show’s creator, wanted to speak.“Karan sir said, ‘This is you, man. Just show up like you.’ That was the brief,” Shandilya recalls. “No notes. Just trust.”Self-taped auditions, he explains, are now the norm. But they come with their own kind of solitude.

“You need to become your own studio,” he says. “And until recently, I didn’t have people around to give me cues. Sometimes I’d call friends on Zoom to read lines. You do what you have to.”

And then, there’s the emotional choreography - of rejection, resilience, and learning to move with the tide.“It’s a beautifully corrupted life, you know?” he says, after a pause. “The moment we decide to become actors, we’re already in a battle - first with ourselves, then with our families, convincing them to let us try one of the most competitive careers out there.”“You leave behind your home, your cooked food, your comfort zone. You arrive in a new city, not even knowing who to speak to or where to go. You’re surrounded by rejection. You try to stay strong for your family, your friends - and in the middle of it, you’re constantly meeting new people, losing others. It’s overwhelming. A weirdly beautiful concoction of emotions.”He admits there’s no full immunity to the emotional toll. “But yes, the journey prepares you - heartbreak, rejection, criticism. Someone might say, ‘Yaar, yeh film toh achhi bani hi nahi.’ And I’m like - do you even know how hard I fought to land that role? How long I waited for those dates to align? How much travel and prep went into it? What if a scene didn’t get shot, or something went wrong in editing or sound? What if politics or the market changed just before the release?”Then there are the silent heartbreaks - unseen, unspoken where scenes are cut. He says,"Whoever does that, I don’t judge them. They’re in a position where they can do that. And I know how tough it is to even get there. So, yeah - you abide by the rules of the game. You smile, you carry on. You never know what life might bring.”