Adarsh Gourav on Tu Yaa Main: I wanted Maruti to feel lived-in, not performed

Known for his immersive approach to acting, Adarsh Gourav spent months engaging with Mumbai’s underground hip-hop scene to prepare for his role as a local rapper from Nalasopara in his upcoming film Tu Yaa Main.

Rather than relying solely on the script, the actor chose to immerse himself in the socio-cultural environment that informs his character’s worldview, spending time with artists from the scene and closely observing their lived realities.

The process helped him add layers to Maruti beyond what was written on paper, and to physically ground the role, Adarsh also got an eyebrow piercing.Speaking about his preparation, Adarsh says, “When I came on board Tu Yaa Main and started developing Maruti, I knew early on that I couldn’t approach the character only through the script.

He comes from a very specific socio-cultural space, and to do justice to him, I needed to understand the world that shapes his voice, rhythm, and attitude.”

As part of this deep-dive, the actor travelled across Mumbai, meeting rappers from different neighbourhoods. He interacted with Vijay Dada in Govandi, Gravity and Shakespeare in Nalasopara, Neazy in Kurla, and Akku and 7 Bantai in Dharavi. He also spent time with Ace, Kinga, Ninja, Yeda Anna, and Loca in Andheri, among others.

Recounting these experiences, he shares, “I travelled to Govandi to meet Vijay Dada, spent time in Nalasopara with Gravity and Shakespeare, went to Kurla to meet Neazy, and headed to Dharavi to meet Akku and 7 Bantai. I also met Ace, Kinga, Ninja, and Yeda Anna, and in Andheri, I met Loca along with a few other artists who are pioneers of this space. These weren’t just meet-and-greet interactions. We jammed and spoke about life, music, struggle, and ambition.

”Reflecting on what stayed with him, Adarsh adds, “Being around them helped me understand where the hunger comes from and how their sound is rooted in their surroundings. Music becomes a way of survival, expression, and identity. All of that organically fed into building Maruti beyond what was written. I wanted the character to feel lived-in, not performed. This process gave me a deep respect for the underground rap community, and I hope that honesty reflects on screen.

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