Tahir Raj Bhasin is back in the spotlight with Netflix’s psychological thriller series ‘Shaque: Trust No One’, where he plays Alok, the husband of Parineeti Chopra’s character Anvita and son of Soni Razdan’s character. The actor, who has explored a range of roles across films and streaming projects, recently spoke about his approach to hypermasculine characters and why the story remains his primary consideration when choosing a role.
Tahir Raj Bhasin weighs in on hypermasculinity depicted in films
Speaking to NDTV, Tahir Raj Bhasin was asked whether he would consider playing a hypermasculine character at a time when films such as ‘Animal’, ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Toxic’ have brought different portrayals of masculinity into the mainstream conversation. The actor said he would be open to such a role if it was organically required by the narrative rather than being used simply as a character trait.“It would really have to suit what the story is. For example, if I play in a gangster drama, Ranveer Singh’s ’83’ co-star Tahir Raj Bhasin opens up on playing hypermasculine characters after ‘Animal’, ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Toxic’: ‘If the story demands, then I would play it’So, I am for the story. I don’t think playing hypermasculinity as a character choice when the story doesn’t demand it, I would be in favour of,” Tahir told NDTV.
Tahir Raj Bhasin on ensemble casts and finding security in the script
Tahir has worked in several ensemble projects, including Kabir Khan’s ’83’ and Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Chhichhore’. In ‘Shaque’, too, he shares the screen with an ensemble that includes Parineeti Chopra and Soni Razdan. Asked whether working in large ensembles ever makes him concerned about losing his identity as an actor, Tahir said he finds confidence in the script and the role’s contribution to the narrative.“Be it 83, Chhichhore or Shaque, I have worked with brilliant directors, who are always at the top of their game. Security comes from the script. You know that the story can’t evolve unless the character evolves,” he said.The actor added that he remains focused on ensuring that audiences understand his character and its place within the larger narrative.“I am very sure that my heart is with the character and the audience needs to know it. All these projects are different from each other. And you know the character will give the story a direction that gives security as an actor,” Tahir added.
Tahir Raj Bhasin plays Alok in ‘Shaque’
In ‘Shaque: Trust No One’, Tahir plays Alok, a character caught between his relationships with his mother and wife while also searching for a sense of belonging within his family. The series stars Parineeti Chopra as Anvita, a mother searching for her missing baby. Directed by Rensil D’Silva, the seven-episode psychological thriller premiered on Netflix on September 24, 2026.
Tahir Raj Bhasin’s work beyond ‘Shaque’
Tahir Raj Bhasin made his acting debut with ‘Mardaani’ in 2014, where he played the antagonist against Rani Mukerji. He subsequently appeared in films and series including ’83’, ‘Chhichhore’, ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein’, ‘Sultan of Delhi’ and ‘Special Ops’ Season 2.
