Rs 2 crore debt and only Rs 2,500 bank balance; yet he recently acted in a Rs 400 crore movie

Time of India

3 days ago

Leaving Acting for Farming
Emotional Toll and Family Support
Veteran television actor Rajesh Kumar , known for his role as Rosesh in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, has made a remarkable return to the spotlight with Saiyaara, a romantic drama directed by Mohit Suri. Featuring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film has not only received strong reviews but has also crossed Rs 400 crore globally, marking it as one of the year's biggest commercial successes.For Rajesh, however, the film's success goes far beyond box office numbers. In several recent interviews, the actor opened up about facing severe financial distress over the past few years, revealing that he was once buried under a Rs 2 crore debt and had just Rs 2,500 left in his bank account.In 2019, Rajesh made a bold choice to quit acting and pursue farming. His aim was to challenge the perception that farming is a fallback option. He told Meri Saheli that he wanted to break the notion that farming is not aspirational, especially among urban youth. However, his transition was anything but smooth. A combination of bad weather, crop failures, and the COVID-19 pandemic led to devastating financial consequences.He said, '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. (Bankruptcy) is a big word, but definitely, I had that feeling with me for a long time.As Rajesh told Rajshri Unplugged, by the time lockdowns were imposed, he had used up all his savings. The steady outflow of funds with no income left him financially drained. He described feeling bankrupt in every sense—unable even to afford chocolates for his kids because of Rs 2,500 bank balance, Rajesh shared in an interview with Dainik Bhaskar.The emotional impact of this period was equally significant. In an interview with Zoom, Rajesh shared how personal experiences influenced his performance in Saiyaara, particularly as he portrayed the father of a character suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's. His mother suffers from the same illness, and the emotions required for the role came naturally to him. He also spoke about how farming deepened his ability to connect emotionally on screen, citing moments from his time in the fields that now help him emote in front of the camera.Despite the financial strain, Rajesh said that his family's unwavering support gave him strength during his lowest points. 'They were my anchor,' he said, emphasizing how their encouragement helped him survive one of the toughest phases of his life.With Saiyaara, Rajesh Kumar finds himself back in the public eye. His role in the film has been praised for its quiet intensity, adding depth to the emotional storyline. The film, produced by Yash Raj Films, follows the journey of a young singer and a journalist navigating love and loss, with Rajesh's character playing a key emotional anchor in the narrative.