Rajeev Khandelwal has always taken the road less travelled, and in his recent interview with a media portal, he shed light on how he defines success on his own terms. Reflecting on the disagreement with a producer, he insisted he stood by what he believed was right even when it meant turning down favours.
“I made the producer reach out to me because he had no other option; he was in the wrong…”
He elaborated that workplace pressures were sometimes framed as risks to others’ jobs, but he felt contractual respect shouldn’t be ignored.
“…he is seeking favors from me. You all are telling me that your jobs are at risk because they have breached the agreement…”
Rajeev also spoke about how gratitude for early opportunities shouldn’t translate into dependency on others for validation. “You may have made me a significant name in the industry… I might not seek validation from the world…”
Looking back on his departure from Kahiin To Hoga, he recalled that critics labelled his choice as “suicide” at the time. He said the backlash reflected more about their insecurities than his intentions.
“Back then, there was no social media… perhaps it was their own insecurities they were projecting onto me.”
On the subject of social platforms themselves, Rajeev was equally candid. In a separate interview, he explained why he remains cautious about his online presence, saying “You Gradually Become a Parasite” if you lean too heavily on digital approval.
He explained that although he uses social media sparingly to share genuine thoughts, he won’t chase likes, endorsements, or trends just to remain visible. For Rajeev, such boundaries allow him to focus on his craft and keep his professional identity anchored in substance rather than virtual validation.
