'Saiyaara' actor Rajesh Kumar had only Rs 2,500 in his account; was in Rs 2 crore debt: 'I couldn’t bring two chocolates for my kids'

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 Kumar 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 further 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 had taken 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 Kumar couldn’t even manage basic survival, despite trying his best.

Saiyaara’ Box Office collection day 18: Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s romantic drama races past Rs 302 crore mark in India; sees LOWEST single-day earning on third Monday

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.”

'Saiyaara' box office collection day 18 (LIVE): The Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda movie crosses Rs 300 crore in India but slows down as 'Mahavtar Narsimha' now dominates over the other releases

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.

'Saiyaara' box office collection day 17: Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s film misses the Rs 300 cr mark by a hair, still shines with Rs 299.75 crore amid competition with ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ and 'Dhadak 2'

A much-needed comeback with ‘Saiyaara’

With the box office victory of ‘Saiyaara’, Rajesh has regained his footing in the film industry and earned renewed appreciation from audiences. His return to cinema has showcased his abilities once again, as he takes on the role of Aneet Padda’s father in this movie.

'Saiyaara' box office collection day 16: Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s film marches towards the Rs 300 crore club; outperforms 'Dhadak 2' on Saturday; however, ‘Son Of Sardaar 2’ leads the race by a margin