Meet Rohit Saraf, the Romantic Hero for a New Generation

There’s something inherently cinematic about Rohit Saraf—even off-camera. Perhaps it’s the way he listens before he speaks, or the warmth that lingers in his words long after a conversation ends. Since his breakout in The Sky Is Pink, the 28-year-old actor has built a reputation as Bollywood’s resident romantic—vulnerable, self-aware, and effortlessly real.

Yet, for someone so rooted in the language of emotion, Rohit’s journey into cinema was not entirely his own dream; it began as his father’s. In the years since, Rohit has become the face of a new kind of stardom—one that values sincerity over swagger, and emotional connection over artifice.

In Conversation with Rohit Saraf

Manifest: Rohit, tell us what drew you towards the world of films?

Rohit Saraf: “I have always been drawn to performance art, but my dream was to pursue dance professionally. In fact, becoming an actor was my father’s dream for me. We had a ritual…every time we were on a holiday or even if I dressed up for an occasion, I’d pose for my father as if I were a ‘hero’. It was incredibly special. I guess at some level that ritual sparked the dream, and I’ve been chasing it ever since.”

M: Was there a particular film, performance, or moment that made you say, ‘This is what I’d like to do for the rest of my life’?

RS: “It was during the promotions of The Sky Is Pink [2019] when PCJ [Priyanka Chopra Jonas] and I went to Amity University together. It was the first time I heard the crowd chant my name. I don’t even know how many people were there that day, but I remember how it made me feel…very clearly. And I called my mother after the event and told her, ‘It felt like I am living a dream’. In that moment, I knew that I wanted to be an actor.”

M: You’ve played characters that often connect deeply with young audiences—what do you look for when you choose a role?

RS: “It is important for me to connect with the character. I have been very fortunate to play some really incredible roles so far, and each of them have resonated with me and excited me in different ways. Most recently, Vikram from Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari [2025] brought a whole new kind of commercial cinema to my repertoire, and now Sachin from The Revolutionaries is set to bring a very different side of me to the screen.”

M: Do you approach acting more as a craft or an instinctive process?

RS: “For me, it’s instinctive. But I also believe that instinct itself is a kind of craft, something I’ve been developing and also continue to learn every day. The more I practice and the more I allow myself to trust those instincts, the easier and more fluid it becomes. It is a continuous learning curve.”

M: If you weren’t an actor, which creative field do you think you’d have thrived in?

RS: “I think I would have been a photographer. I enjoy taking photographs of other people, a lot! And I think I am good at it. Or maybe even an artist—but I don’t think I have the patience to sit and literally watch paint dry.”

M: How has your definition of love evolved over the years?

RS: “The way I understand love has kept shifting and growing for as long as I’ve known what it is. At this point in my life, I imagine love would feel like floating on still water... Weightless, calm, and completely at ease. It’s not about grand gestures or constant waves, but about that quiet sense of safety, of being held without effort, where nothing feels rushed and everything feels enough. Ironically, I’m afraid of the water.”

M: If you had to imagine your own wedding, what would it look like? Are there any details you have in mind for your own big day?

RS: “It would be an intimately grand or a grandly intimate affair, however you want to say it. I would only want our closest, innermost circle there, but grand in the kind of celebrations we would have planned. An elaborate musical night with our favourite singers is a must and, of course, the most incredible food our guests would have ever tasted. Now, that sounds like a good time.”

M: How would you describe your ideal partner?

RS: “I think I’d just want somebody I can share the regular, mundane parts of life with—a relationship where nothing has to be performative. I think my ideal partner would be someone who finds authentic sexy.”

M: Do you believe in grand gestures or small, thoughtful acts of love?

RS: “I think it depends on your partner and their love language, what makes them feel most loved. Both grand gestures and small, thoughtful acts of love have their own time and place. Sometimes you want to be big and extravagant, sometimes a quiet whisper feels right. They are both saying the same thing, and that’s what matters.”

M: What’s your most unforgettable memory as a wedding guest?

RS: “Many years ago, my best friend PB and I were bored and we decided it would be fun to crash a wedding. We started calling up random hotels in Mumbai, pretending to be ‘guests’ who weren’t sure what time the reception was starting. Very convincingly, we’d go and ask the hotel staff, ‘Could you tell us what time is the reception?’. Eventually, we struck gold with a hotel in Juhu. So, there we were, me in a suit, PB in a sari—walking in like we belonged. We enjoyed a full meal, went up on stage, posed for photos with the bride and groom (who definitely had no idea who we were), and then casually walked out. Hands down, one of the most unforgettable weddings I’ve ever attended.”

M: Do you like experimenting with fashion?

RS: “I am someone who loves classic, clean-cut, well-tailored silhouettes, but I don’t mind incorporating one piece in the ensemble that’s fun and elevates the outfit.”

M: For Manifest’s cover shoot, you’ve been styled in some of India’s most exquisite craft-driven ensembles... Tell us more about it.

RS: “There is something very special about knowing the amount of hard work that has gone into the making of a traditional, handcrafted piece. Even if I can’t name the techniques, I do feel proud that our country creates pieces that are not just clothes, but stories being carried forward.”

M: In an age of fast fashion, what makes handmade crafts and textiles so powerful?

RS: “Handmade textiles always have and will continue to stand out because of the quality and attention to detail. Fast fashion is fleeting, but craft-driven pieces are built to last and also feel unique. For weddings, that makes a big difference. I’d imagine you want something that’s not only yours, but also timeless.”

M: If there’s one thing you hope your audience always feels when they see you on screen, what would that be?

RS: “If the audience can connect deeply enough to feel what my character is feeling, that, to me, is the real measure of having done my job well.”

M: As you continue to evolve as an actor and person, what excites you most about the future—professionally and personally?

RS: “I feel like this year has been a step in the right direction for me, both personally and professionally. With Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari introducing me to the world of family entertainers and The Revolutionaries setting the stage for a period, action-drama, I’m so excited to share this journey with the world. And I am looking forward to do more, push myself further and explore different roles that really challenge me as an actor.”

Manifest Quick Takes

The last wedding I attended was: “Of my favourite cousin in Kolkata. It was such a special one.”

The one wedding ritual I secretly love is: “The dance-off between the two families. The energy is unbeatable.”

Sherwani, pantsuit, or kurta: “My favourite wedding outfit is definitely a sherwani. Otherwise, you can never go wrong with a classic bandhgala.”

My guilty pleasure at weddings: “Desserts, without question. And at winter weddings, nothing beats the joy of hot chhole kulche straight off the tawa...it’s pure magic.”

My favourite sangeet songs: “Early 2000s Bollywood bangers— they always get me on the floor. And the latest addition to that list is ‘Ishq Manzoor’ from my film. I can’t stop vibing to it. I almost want to get invited to a wedding just so I can dance to it.”

A co-star I’d love to attend a wedding with is: “Janhvi Kapoor. We’d probably eat our way through the wedding and end up being the reason the food runs short.”

If my life were a Bollywood wedding film, the title would be: “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.”

Photographs: Akula Madhu; Styling: Abhilasha Devnani; Hair: Tanik Singh; Make-up: Imtiaz Saikh; Fashion assistants: Forum Majithia, Niyati Jadhav and Yashita Goyal Khanwalkar; Bookings and production: Varun Shah; Production assistant: Ishani Bhojwani

This story appears in Manifest India’s September-October 2025. Subscribe here for more stories like this.