Adarsh Gourav immersed himself in Mumbai’s underground rap culture to prepare for his role in the survival drama Tu Yaa Main. He spent time across neighbourhoods, listening, observing, and trading verses with working artists. The actor said the process pushed him to dig deeper and build a character rooted in lived experience. He wanted every gesture and pause to feel truthful rather than performed, and believed that could only come from meeting the people who shaped that world.
Adarsh Gourav learns the pulse of the streets
According to IANS, the actor said he quickly understood that research from a distance would not work. “Very early on, I realised that Maruti couldn’t be built in isolation,” he said. “His voice, his body language, even his silences come from a place that’s deeply tied to where he grew up.”Gourav met rappers in Nalasopara, Govandi, Kurla, Dharavi, and Andheri. They spoke about hustle, rejection, and carving out an identity through sound. The exchanges left a lasting mark. “We spoke about ambition, about being unheard, about using music as a way to claim space,” he said. “Those conversations shaped how I approached the character far more than any written note could.”
Adarsh Gourav finds the fire
Time spent in studios and on street corners helped him understand the urgency behind the art. “Being around the underground rap community helped me understand where the fire comes from. Their music isn’t performative; it’s lived,” he said.Gourav carried that understanding onto the set of Tu Yaa Main. He focused on belonging, wanting his character, Maruti, to feel shaped by his environment rather than like an outsider borrowing a style. The preparation also fed into the film’s music, including the recently released rap number Naam Karu Bada, which features the actor.Directed by Bejoy Nambiar, the film pairs Gourav with Shanaya Kapoor and blends romance with high-stakes drama. For Gourav, however, the heart of the experience remains the people he met while preparing. Their stories, he said, continue to echo in every line he delivers.
