From a small town called Gadherwara in Madhya Pradesh -- "also the birthplace of Osho Rajneesh" -- to the big bad world of films, it's been a long journey for Rana. But the kudos and applause he has won in the past weeks have more than made up for the innumerable rejection slips that came his way when he reached Mumbai with nothing but dreams in his bag.

But from as far back as he can recollect, Rana knew that he wanted to become an actor. "If I hadn't been an actor, I would have merely been an unsuccessful actor," he laughs. Which is why he chucked up law to join the National School of Drama. "I started off as one of the worst students in my batch. But after the first few months, I settled into the place andstarted doing well," says the bespectacled actor. The fact that he played lead roles in 13 of the 15 plays that were staged by his batch, stands testimony to his talent.

But NSD didn't open any doors for Rana when he came to Mumbai in 1994, "to become a villain". What set him apart from other strugglers, who gravitate to the city of dreams, was his self-confidence which refused to wane. "I never felt insecure even though I didn't know if I had the capacity to realise my ambitions," he says.

And his never-say-never approach helped. "Sometimes, what starts off as a small opening could turn into something really big," he says. Rana didn't turn down any role that came his way, and didn't even mind grabbing the odd television offer. "It was my way of telling the big bosses that today you may think I am capable of just this, but I will make you want to hire me for better things," he says.

And that's how he got a 10-episode role in Swabhimaan. "It was such a hit, that once I got in, I was there till thelast episode," he says. Then came a small cameo in Pooja Bhatt's first production, Tamanna, "a bad man with a good heart who revolts and dies in the climax". This was followed by a one-scene role in Mukesh Bhatt's Ghulam -- which was already under production long before Dushman started. "I knew that these were the only opportunities I'd get, since there was no godfather to launch me. And I had to make the most of them," says Rana.

His strategy paid off, because that one scene got him the role of Gokul Pandit in Dushman. He had earlier been chosen for the role of the cop who chases Gokul -- the part which was eventually done by Pramod Moutho. "I was even ready to do that because I don't think the length of your scene is relevant -- it is the smaller roles that put you in the big league," he says.

And Rana slipped into the role like it was made for him. "Every girl in every city carries the fear of Gokul Pandit within her. He is constantly watching her, and she is always afraidof running into this man. She may not be raped, but his mere presence unnerves her," he says. What he did have to work on, however, was his physical appearance. The ugly patch of hair that hangs on his forehead, the blood red bindi, the kajal in his eyes and the shining gold tooth, all add to the vulgarity of his appearance. "He is completely desi, a shudh Hindustani -- he's one of us, someone we see everyday. We fear this man because we can associate with his character," he says.

But Rana says he's through with Gokul, and he even turned down a few roles that were precariously similar. "I need to impress myself all the time. If I keep repeating the same act over and over again, I will be the first person to get bored with me," he says.

Today he can afford to be choosy -- what with a couple of meaty roles already in his pocket. He plays the bad man once again in Vishesh Films' Sanghursh, Mahesh Bhatt's Zakham and Pranlal Mehta's untitled venture. But he has noqualms about doing television or theatre even after he's made it big in films. "I have not slotted myself in any medium. My only ambition is to stay alive even after I am dead and gone. And I am prepared to do every kind of role to ensure that it happens," he says.