Exclusive: Krishna Bharadwaj on how Tenali Rama changed his life; says ‘I had a terrible life, no money and was on medication for depression’

In an exclusive chat with Times of India TV, actor Krishna Bharadwaj opened up about how Tenali Rama transformed his life. He revealed facing financial struggles, battling depression, and being on medication before the show. Krishna shared his excitement about Tenali Rama’s season 2 comeback, going bald again for the role, and how he overcame personal challenges with resilience.

The character is such, who spreads a lot of happiness. And a character, who spreads a lot of happiness, it affects you personally and reflects on you. As an actor, I was like I have to play the same role again but then I thought the life I had before…then I realised it is time to be happy again and a human should never say no to a thing which brings happiness. I am really happy to play Rama once again.

I didn’t think the show would do so well and it became a big hit. No work of mine has been as big as Tenali Rama. Personally, Tenali Rama made me a happier person, which I used to be before the show happened. I wasn’t this happy person. I was sad and depressed because of certain circumstances in life. But playing Tenali Rama for 3 years, I realised when it ended that I am a happier person. I solved things in a much calmer manner. When you play a character, which is very different from your personal energy, psychologically affects you. It affected me beautifully and positively.

The first thing that came to my mind was that I don’t want to go bald again, I don’t want to lose my hair. I was in love with my hair and look and I had spent a lot of money to have those hair. But that was just a part, which affects you for a day or two. What you are going to do is much bigger than losing your hair. Takle hone ke paise mil rahe hai toh thoda paise hi kama lete hai.

I did a lot of shows with Hats Off Production, which ran for a year or so. But none became as successful as Tenali. In 2013, my work RK Laxman Ki Duniya ended with the production house and till 2017 I had no work. I don’t know why. I used to get selected in each and every audition I gave. I would get shortlisted but never got a final call. I think it was a lesson or learning from the universe that I had to go through that period else I wouldn’t have been able to play Tenali the way I did.

Professionally and personally, both ways the show means a lot to me. Professionally, the show has been a benchmark of my life. Before 2017, I was out of work for 4 years. I had a terrible life, no money, no social life, no nothing. I was struggling hard to survive in the industry. Coming from a small town and a humble family, I had no monetary or financial help from anybody. It was a difficult time when Tenali came to me and beggars can’t choosers.

When you are in depression, one should keep themselves occupied, which I did and it kept me going. I didn’t have any money for consultation. I had money for medication so I was on medication for depression. I couldn’t share it with my parents because they were old and I had no friends so it was a very tough life. I used to stay alone in a one room kitchen in Malad and that was the time when my spiritual journey had also started. I started meditation. I used to meditate for 10 hours a day doing nothing else and would manifest good things in life.