Rajesh Kumar, best known for his roles in popular shows like ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’, Excuse Me Maadam, and ‘Kota Factory’, is finally back in the spotlight. Thanks to his supporting role in ‘Saiyaara’, the actor has found his place again in the film industry. The romantic drama, directed by Mohit Suri and starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, turned out to be a massive box office hit. Released in July, ‘Saiyaara’ opened to good reviews and shocked everyone with its numbers. The film has already made over Rs 400 crore worldwide and is expected to cross Rs 500 crore soon.While Rajesh is now enjoying success, has shared that he went through a very tough time not long ago, one that involved financial loss, emotional stress, and a strong comeback.
Left acting and turned to farming
In an interview with Meri Saheli, Rajesh revealed he once faced serious money problems. “Bankruptcy, yes. The incoming and outgoing flow had gone for a toss. There was no incoming, and I had exhausted all my reserves because of the outgoing. I went under debt of Rs 2 crore,” he said.He added, “(Bankruptcy) is a big word, but definitely, I had that feeling with me for a long time. I was not able to generate money for survival also. This was definitely a phase.”Rajesh had decided to quit acting in 2019 and took up farming. But things didn’t go as planned. He wanted to break the myth that farming is only for people with no better career choices. “Nobody these days dreams of becoming a farmer when they grow up,” he said, explaining how he hoped to change people’s views about farming.
Lockdown worsened the money crisis
Rajesh had barely started farming when things began to go wrong. First, weather conditions affected his crops, and then the pandemic made it even worse. Speaking to Rajshri Unplugged, he said, “Financially, I was on a slide. By the lockdown, I had used up my savings, and was literally bankrupt. I didn’t have anything in my pocket. I had huge loans, and that was adding to the pressure.”The lack of income during that time meant Rajesh couldn’t even manage basic survival, despite trying his best.
Just Rs 2,500 in the bank
Rajesh also shared a heartbreaking memory of when he worked on a film called ‘Binny and Family’. He had to travel to the UK for a 24-day shoot, but money was so tight that he couldn’t afford to bring anything back for his children. In an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, he said, “I had just Rs 2,500 in my bank account when I was in the UK. I traveled back and forth twice during that 24-day shoot, but I couldn’t bring back even two chocolates for my kids.”
Family support kept him going
Throughout this difficult time, Rajesh said it was his family that stood by him and gave him the strength to keep going. He admitted that he wasn’t earning enough to even survive, and without his loved ones helping him out, he may not have made it through.
A much-needed comeback with ‘Saiyaara’
Now that ‘Saiyaara’ has turned out to be a box office success, Rajesh finally feels like he’s back where he belongs. The film has not only helped him return to the big screen but has also reminded fans of his talent. He plays Aneet Padda’s father in the film.
