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A dynamic figure in the WWE circuit, Raja splits his time between the wrestling arena and his burgeoning acting career.
The tale of the rising WWE star Raja, hailing from Indian roots, is one of resilience and discovery across borders.Raja grew up alongside his two siblings in England. His parents had migrated from Gurdaspur, India, before his birth.
Initially facing hardships in England, their circumstances changed when Raja’s father, previously an accountant, relocated the family after securing a new job.
At the age of 6, Raja’s family moved to Brussels, Belgium, and two years later, made a permanent move to Brisbane, Australia. Embarking on his wrestling journey at 23, Raja ventured to Canada for his training and now resides in Liverpool, England.
Inspired by wrestling icons like Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, and The Rock, Raja’s passion for WWE spurred him to pursue a career in the ring.
As Raja prepares to captivate television audiences, TimesofIndia.com caught up with the WWE star to delve into his WWE journey, his foray into acting, his connection to India, and much more…
Can you share your transition from WWE to acting career?
Everything that I do is ultimately to build my brand. I want my worth and notability to keep growing so I’m even more valuable to companies around the world. I wrestle full time, I do acting full time which includes stunt work, I do speaking engagements, I train, and I do so many things at the same time as I want my name to keep on growing.
When did you decide to pursue acting, and what motivated that decision?
I always wanted to transition into Hollywood/Bollywood when my career finishes one day but when NXT UK shuts down in the fall of 2022. I thought to myself, let me kick start my acting career so I can keep building my brand so eventually when I do retire from wrestling, I’m not starting from scratch and by then I’ll be known in the acting world.
Do you plan to continue your involvement with WWE alongside your acting endeavors?
I have a great relationship with WWE and am on great terms with them. There have been talks but the right moment isn’t ready. My goal is to get back there but it’s not time yet.
Could you shed light on your character in House of the Dragon Season 2?
I can’t go into detail about this but all I can say is tune in for House of the Dragon Season 2 on June 16th only on HBO!
How did the opportunity to join the cast of House of the Dragon Season 2 come about?
It’s all about the grind and how much work you put in. I was thinking of ways how to build up my brand more and saw this opportunity come up, I took a shot and succeeded. After that, I sought to get representation and the rest is history.
Between WWE and acting, which presents more challenges for you, Rohan?
It crosses over very nicely, that’s why you see a lot of wrestlers performing in Hollywood and even Bollywood. When you film vignettes with WWE it’s very much the same how you do it in Hollywood and Bollywood.
Who has been a major source of inspiration for you in your acting journey?
I have a bunch of favourite actors but my biggest inspiration would be Dave Bautista (Batista from WWE). His story touched me and how he transitioned into acting was from the ground all the way to the top. He’s one of the most versatile actors out there and once he’s finished he’ll probably be one of the best of all time.
What’s your favorite character from Game of Thrones, and what draws you to them?
So funny thing, I started watching Game of Thrones when the pilot aired for episode 1 season 1. I saw Sean Bean had landed a new TV show. He’s known for a lot of roles but to me, his most known role is “Boromir” from Lord of the Rings. So I had a soft spot for his character in Game of Thrones “Ned Stark”. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get the best outcome but the remaining Starks definitely avenge him well!
Can you elaborate on your connection to India and how frequently you visit?
My dad was born in Gurdaspur and my mum was born in Hoshiarpur. I’ve been a handful of times but I’m overdue for a visit. I had to be there in 2020 but things changed with the pandemic at the time but I promise I will be back soon.
What aspects of India do you miss the most when you’re away?
It’s a beautiful country, I miss the people, the food, the scenery. India has such a vast landscape, that people don’t realise how big it actually is. One of my goals eventually is to give back and help some of the small villages that need support and resources.
How supportive was your family when you initially expressed interest in pursuing a career in WWE?
All of my immediate family were supportive for a very long time. My siblings but especially my mum would listen to me talk about it as a child and teenager and she always would say to chase your dreams. The last person I told was my dad and I was always scared of what he would say, funny enough he was on board from day one and is one of my biggest supporters to this day.
What was your family’s reaction when you shared your decision to pursue acting?
They always knew eventually I wanted to go that route, the plan was to do it once I retired from wrestling which is a long long time away but once NXT UK closed. I thought why not start now and build my brand more so it benefits my career in Professional Wrestling and makes me a more valuable asset.
Which decision was more difficult for you: opting for WWE or pursuing acting?
I wouldn’t say I’ve picked one or the other. There’s reasoning behind every decision I make. I wanted to create my brand and make it as big as it can be so my value goes up. Very similar to what Logan Paul is doing but he can’t act haha just kidding he’s a superstar.
Could you share a fond memory you have with Jinder Mahal, highlighting your strong bond?
Jinder is the best, he has been a friend, brother, and mentor to me over the years. I have so many good memories with him but one of my favourite ones was when we were driving from Edmonton after an Indy show back to Calgary. He invited me to have dinner at his parents’ place and they cooked the best Indian food for me which was amazing. We just chilled out at his for hours and that’s the day I knew that we were going to be great friends. I’m going to see him in a few weeks so I’ll tell him India says hello!
Do you anticipate that the Indian audience’s admiration for you as a WWE star will translate into support for your acting career?
100%! I’ve said it in the past and I’ll say it again. Fans in India are without a doubt my biggest supporters, from every country India stands out as number one in terms of supporting me. The amount of messages I get from people in India is huge and it’s so heartwarming to read. I’m just getting started, India so I’ll continue to make you all proud!
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