The other Rahul

His forefathers played a prominent role in the Freedom struggle, his mother is one of the senior most figures in the Congress party but that’s where the similarity with his politically famous namesake ends.

Ever since he caught national attention with the intensity of his performance in Zubeida, Rahul Singh has carved a niche for himself which has finally convinced his parents that acting was his real calling in life. But while he never followed the footsteps of his mother Prabha Thakur into politics - the renowned poetess is a four term Congress MP from Rajasthan and the president of the All India Mahila Congress - it’s uncanny how Rahul’s career graph has comprised a predominance of politically flavoured roles.

After his latest outing as Vikrant Maurya in the dynastic saga 24, the Mayo College alumni is now preparing to play Acharya Kriplani in the mini series being directed by Shyam Benegal on the drafting of the Indian constitution. “Acharya Kriplani taught my grand father when he was at Banaras Hindu University. Now I’m doing a role in which I address my great grandfather’s dear friend Dr Rajendra Prasad in a speech as Kriplani, and deliver the speech from where my mother sits in Parliament,” says Rahul. Political drama meets family potboiler?