Veteran television actor Rajesh Kumar, famously known for his role as Rosesh in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, has made an incredible return to the silver screen with Mohit Suri’s romantic drama Saiyaara . Starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film has emerged as one of the year’s highest-grossers, crossing Rs 400 crore globally.
Though, the actor has now successfully established himself, but did you know, his early days were fraught with financial hardships? In several recent interviews, the actor recounted severe setbacks over the past few years, revealing how he was in a Rs 200 crore debt and had just Rs 2500 left in his bank account.
What happened after Rajesh Kumar left acting?
In 2019, Rajesh made a surprising decision to take a step back from acting and pursue farming. He rented 20 acres of land in Palghar. His initial aspirations turned into major regret when the 15,000 saplings he planted were destroyed due to bad weather, leading him to devastating financial distress. “That area had never seen a flood before, but it rained heavily that year, wiping out all the plants. It was a very rough start,” He said.
When Rajesh Kumar struggled financially in COVID-19
Unfortunately, the challenges in Rajesh’s life didn’t end here. In an interview with Rajshri Unplugged, the actor told that his second attempt at farming was affected due to COVID-19 lockdown. By the time, he had used up all his savings and was left with no income. He was left bankrupt and couldn’t even afford chocolates for his kids because of Rs 2500 bank balance.
He also turned to vegetable farming and opened up a small stall outside his son’s school. However, financial distress continued, leading to a devastating period in his life. “Finally, I left the farm and went back to acting,” he said.
Despite the monetary strain, Rajesh admitted that his family’s unwavering support helped him the most during his lowest phase. With Saiyaara, Rajesh Kumar has returned in the public eye. His role of Aneet Padda’s father in the film has been appreciated, adding quite intensity to the emotional storyline.