Toby actor Raj B Shetty: I will do a hero-driven mass film if the story, role and experience is new

Raj B Shetty’s upcoming film Toby is, according to him, his answer to the lack of massy elevation in Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana and one that will have far more whistle-worthy moments. The first look of his character from a pivotal sequence in the film has him looking rather ferocious, with blood trickling down his face, indicating that there will be a fair share of violence in the film. In fact, Raj has also said that Toby is a revenge drama.

Considering that Raj has gone from doing a classy mass film (Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana) to an outright mass movie (Toby), the question that lingers is whether he would consider doing a hero-driven commercial film in the near future. Speaking to Masth Cinema about this, Raj said that something like that would only happen if the story, character and his experience of doing it has a refreshing newness to it. If there is nothing novel about it, Raj reckons that there are actors who have done such roles before and are much better equipped than him to do it. Citing an example, the actor-filmmaker said that the simple action of walking would a lot different if an A-list hero does it and when he does it. “So, when they are doing a much better job of shouldering a hero-driven film, I don’t think I should even attempt replicating it,” reasoned Raj.

The actor added that he is aware that he has limitations as an actor, based on how he looks and his general physique. “I am willing to do whatever is possible within those limitations. I don’t think cinema should come to a point where I cross those limitations and force people to accept me as something that I am not,” he said.

Toby, which Raj has written based on a story by TK Dayanand, has him playing the lead character. He is joined by Samyukta Hornad Chaithra Achar and Gopalkrishna Deshpande in pivotal roles. The film releases in theatres on August 25.